Economy

FG Rolls out National Construction and Household Support Programme

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the programme is aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening the economy, and providing immediate economic relief for Nigerian households.

Ngelale added that the programme, which was supported by the NEC, includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country.

He added that a key component of the programme is the approval of the N50,000 uplift grant to be distributed to 100,000 families per state for three months.

He disclosed that the programme will also cater to infrastructure projects, including the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse seven states and is considered key for agricultural sustainability. He added that the states along this axis form the food belt of the nation.

Other infrastructure initiatives include the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway. Tinubu also approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway.

In addition to the projects, Ngelale said the NEC approved the allocation of N10 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for the procurement of buses and implementation of the Compressed Natural Gas uplift programme.

According to the presidential spokesman, provisions were also made for labour unions and civil society organizations.

During the NEC meeting, Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate in meeting the needs of citizens and boosting food production in the country.

He said, “Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late.

“We are ready and able to support you in the form of the mechanization of your agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.

“We are prepared to provide solar-powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons, but we must now produce. We must produce the food our people eat, and it will require coordination and intentionality between members of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy, and sell. We create jobs in the production of it. And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians.

“How much support do you need from me, and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result. We must deliver on our targets at all levels. Please report back following your consultations and submit to my office within seven days.”

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Education

WAEC Decides on Withheld Results Tuesday

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The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has initiated the 76th meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee to deliberate on cases of malpractice and irregularities arising from the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates.

The body made this known on Tuesday via its official X handle.

Earlier on Monday, WAEC appointed Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut as the Head of the Nigeria National Office.  

In August, the examination body initially released the 2023 WASSCE results, but the outcomes of 262,803 candidates were put on hold due to instances of examination malpractice.

However, the body has assured candidates that information about their results will be communicated after the NEC meeting concludes its deliberations.

“The 76th Meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) to consider & decide on the malpractice/irregularity cases arising from the conduct of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023 begins today,” the post read.

Details later.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

VP Shettima Presides over NEC Meeting

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Vice-President Kashim Shettima is currently presiding over a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) in the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

This is the third NEC meeting of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The meeting comes amidst high inflation and hardship caused by the economic policies of the federal government.

The council consists of the 36 state governors, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other government officials.

Today’s meeting is expected to consider varying issues, including the Federation’s financial status and other general issues. However, the most critical of the issues before the Council is the deployment of palliatives aimed at cushioning the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

Among the governors attending the meeting are: Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Inuwa Yahya (Gombe), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Dr Alex Otti (Abia), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

Others are Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Senator Uba Sani(Kaduna), Sheriff Obrevwori (Delta), Prof Charles Soludo (Anambra), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Umaru Namadi (Jigawa).

Also at the meeting are Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Prince Bassey Otu (Cross River), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo State acting governor), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Ahmad Aliu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Prof Babagana Zulum (Borno).

Deputy governors of Katsina, Rivers, Yobe, Adamawa, Kano, and Kebbi are also participating in the meeting.

Daniel Adejo

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Politics

 APC Legal Adviser, Ahmed El-Marzuk Resigns

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National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed El-Marzuk, has resigned from the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.

It was gathered that he resigned his appointment on Wednesday, following insistence by some of his colleagues that he could not longer be in office due to some allegations against him.

The 12th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party, which is currently underway in Abuja, is expected to name a replacement.

Details later.

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Foreign

Elections: UK Vows Close Monitoring of Activities

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The United Kingdom Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell says the country is following the run-up to Presidential, National Assembly and Gubernatorial elections very closely because of the importance of Nigeria to the UK.

In a statement ahead of this Saturday’s general election, Andrew Mitchell says over the last two months, he had met four of the top presidential candidates, the Chairman of INEC and emphasised support for a seamless exercise.

The statement explains that the UK Government will continue to work closely with INEC and Nigerian civil society partners to provide advisory support on electoral and legal reforms, assist in strengthening democratic institutions, and advocate for the importance of civil society engagement in electoral and democratic processes to help deliver credible elections.

It maintains that it is vital for Nigeria’s stability and democratic consolidation that the electoral process is free, fair, and credible.

The statement encourages all actors in Nigeria to intervene proactively to calm any tensions and prevent violence in the periods before, during and after the elections.

It says where the UK is aware of attempts to subvert democratic processes at the National or State level, it is prepared to take action against those who engage in or incite electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Education

ASUU Rejects Plans to Increase Tuition in Public University

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) opposes plans by the government to raise the tuition costs associated with receiving a university education.

According to ASUU, this move could put higher education out of reach for economically disadvantaged students.

The Union also expressed concern about what it calls “the government’s systematic withdrawal from funding public universities through the proposed introduction of education loans,” which it claims has been a complete failure in countries where it has been implemented.

Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, National President of ASUU, said in a statement on Monday that the resolutions were reached at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Calabar.

Professor Osodeke drew Nigerians’ attention to the lingering issue of renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which he said was the initial issue that led to the recently suspended strike, and added that what was more concerning was the government’s increasing “anti-labour” posture, which suggested attempts to abrogate the principle of the collective bargaining agreement.

According to Professor Osodeke, the NEC rejected the government’s insistence on handing down an award rather than a bargained salary package.

‘’The meeting also reviewed and condemned the government’s attempt to casualize the job of intellectuals, as reflected in the pro-rated salaries paid to our members for the month of October 2022, as well as the continued withholding of our members’ salaries for the preceding 8 months, even when the backlog of work is being covered by our members in various universities’’ he stated.

ASUU wants Nigerians to put pressure on the government to take care of unfinished business in the FGN-ASUU Memorandum of Action for December 2020.

FRCN Abuja / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Education

Strike: ASUU’s NEC to Meet by 4PM

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The National Executive Council, NEC, of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU will commence its meeting by 4pm Today.

The NEC is the highest decision-making body of ASUU.

The outcome of the NEC meeting will determine whether ASUU will call off its strike which began on Monday, February 14, 2022.

A member of the NEC who confirmed this to The Punch on Sunday said, “The meeting will start by 4 pm”.

ASUU had last week directed its zones and branches to organise congresses following the deadlocked meeting between the union and representatives of the Federal Government.

Some students who spoke to our correspondent expressed fears at the possibility of an indefinite strike.

A student of the University of Ilorin, Tajudeen Sanusi said, “I don’t even want to think about it. I am scared and the idea of an indefinite strike doesn’t speak well to me at all. I am still optimistic though”

Another student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ifeoma Orji, said, “The past six to seven months have been depressing enough for me. I don’t even know what to do at the moment. I am in my final year, the thought of an indefinite strike alone is killing me. We are still hoping that the federal government and ASUU will find a common ground.”

Punch/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Politics

PDP National Convention Dates Remain Unchanged- Makinde

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Governor of Oyo State and Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Organising Committee,  Engineer Seyi Makinde has declared that the October 30 and 31 dates for the party’s National Convention remained unchanged despite attempts by some individuals to scuttle the programme.

He maintained that the National Executive Committee of the party acted in good faith by fixing the convention for the said date and not to witch-hunt any individual or truncate anyone’s mandate as being insinuated.

Governor Makinde, in a statement signed on behalf of the National Convention Organising Committee and made available to newsmen, said despite the action of some individuals to approach a Kaduna High Court in order to prevent the convention from holding, the party would not be distracted.

He charged members of the party across the country to ignore the antics of such individuals and focus on organising a national convention, which according to him, will prove to all Nigerians that the PDP remains the best option to rescue Nigeria.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) is using this medium to alert members of our party and members of the public that we are aware of the actions of a few misguided PDP members who have approached the High Court in Kaduna in an attempt to prevent our great party, the PDP from holding its National Convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.  

“Notwithstanding their right to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to air their grievances, we maintain that the National Executive Committee, (NEC) of the PDP has acted in good faith in fixing our convention for October 30 and 31. It is not meant to witch-hunt anyone or to truncate anyone’s mandate. 

“Therefore, we call on all members and supporters of the PDP to ignore this distraction as we prepare to host a convention that will send a clear signal to Nigerians that the PDP is the only party that has the will and the might to rescue Nigeria from the catastrophe that we have been enduring for the past six years.”

According to Governor Makinde, some forces trying to divide the party were behind the latest attempts to stop the convention.

He urged PDP members to keep the faith, stating that the party is taking all necessary measures to ensure that its focus is not derailed, adding that the party will do everything possible to strengthen its structure and put in the efforts needed to unite the county and restore its glory.

“We are aware that a clearly united PDP is a threat to the forces that seek to divide us. Therefore, we urge our teeming supporters nationwide to keep the faith as we are taking all necessary measures to ensure that we will not be distracted from our goal. 

“We are determined to strengthen our party structure and put in the work needed to unify and restore our great nation back on the path to economic prosperity and greatness. 

“We therefore urge all party faithful to continue to rally support as we prepare to host our National Convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.”

Iyabo Adebisi

Security

Vice President chairs a virtual emergency National Economic Council Meeting

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vice president, Yemi Osinbajo has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) for Monday, October 26, 2020.

Constitutionally, the Vice president is the chair of the NEC, which has as members state governors.

The meeting is to, among others, enable the Council to receive briefings from the state governors and security agencies on the state of the states and the nation.

The virtual emergency EC meeting was convened amidst looting of COVID-19 palliatives at warehouses as well as the vandalisation of public and private property across the country.

PR/Faniran

Politics

Ours Remains the Best Political Brand in Nigeria – PDP Spokesman

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has ruled out the possibility of changing its name ahead of the 2023 general election.

Spokesman of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the decision not to alter the party’s current name was part of the discussion at the party’s 88th National Executive Committee, NEC, in Abuja.

Addressing the media at the end of the meeting, Mr. Ologbondiyan said the party insisted that the PDP brand remained the best in the political firmament of the country and as such, those canvassing for a change of name should forget it.

He added that the PDP had constituted a committee to review the conduct of the 2019 general elections with a view to unraveling what transpired during the polls.

According to Mr. Ologbondiyan, the decision will guide the PDP in pushing for electoral reforms ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Adewumi Faniran