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Folarin Kehinde

COP26: Summit will Improve Narratives on Climate Change – Abolo

by Folarin Kehinde October 13, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

With less than a month to the
26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) Summit, the President/CEO, Ecologists Integrated Services Limited, Dr. Paul Abolo has assured of an enhanced narrative on climate change in Nigeria.

Abolo while speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the Nigeria Pre-COP26 Summit explained that there is an existing positive narrative and engagement on climate change especially for the private sector, Civil Society Organizations and subnational entities which the COP26 Summit set to enhance.

It would be recall that the COP26 Summit was scheduled to hold in November last year but was shifted to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summit will now take place in Glasgow, Scotland by 1st-12th, November 2021.

Meanwhile, Abolo stated that Nigeria PRE-COP26 Summit is a 2 day event which is being held following the main event itself
aim at giving Nigeria time to prepare and deliver on negotiations mandates on Climate Change.

“The subnational entities will also join us in this event, the day 2 is a day for their presentation on what they intend to present at COP26”.

He added that the Nigerian COP26 Summit is the first of its kind because it is purely private sector driven with the private sectors, NGOs and CSOs coming together to access preparation for COP26 and to make a reassessment if there is need to make an adjustment for the ultimate COP26 event.

FCT Coordinator, Women in Renewable Energy (WIREA), Mrs Oluwatoyin Taylor call for more advocacy on renewable energy especially for women.

Taylor explained that lots of the renewable energy project require a lot of engineering work which are not really feminine or gender friendly but encouraged women to participate in every area.

She noted that women play a major role because the products are used by them and if they do not use it properly, there will be lots of pollution.

“So lots of training and advocacy has to go into this because if they do not use it well, they will go back to square one, but women are very important in areas of logistics, planning and mostly men go to field but we now have women going to the field”.

In her opinion on COP26, she said “there is going to be lots of advocacy, we are going to do lots of advocacy and job opportunities, we want women in different areas of renewable energy like the carbon area, logistics and planning”.

“We want more of them taking advantage of the job creation that will come out of this COP26”. She added.

October 13, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

Edo Pensioner Collapsed During Protest over non-payment of gratuities, Salary

by Folarin Kehinde October 12, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

A male retiree (name withheld) reportedly collapsed during a protest by the Edo Pensioners over their non-payment of their gratuities, salary and harmonization benefits by the government.

In the light of this, commercial and human vehicular movements were yesterday, disrupted for hours in Oba Ovonramwen square popularly called Ring Road in Benin City, Edo State, as pensioners in their numbers blocked all adjoining roads over unpaid gratuities, non-harmonization of pensions among other welfare issues.

The peaceful protest led to traffic congestion on major roads such as Sapele Road, Sakponba, Ekehuan, Uselu-Ugbowo axis and Airport Road linking the city centre, and hindered the free flow of movements by commuters plying the roads to their respective destinations.

The protesters, dressed in black attires, chanted songs such as “We shall overcome,” and carried placards with inscriptions such as “Pensioners need gratuity to take care of our health and our family,” “Pay our gratuity and harmonize our monthly pension,” among others.

They appealed to the state government to accede to their demands as things were going too rough for them.

The senior citizens under the umbrella of Association of Retired Civil Servants Welfare of Nigeria, ARCSWON, in Edo State lamented that their allowances were far depleted by inflation and expensive cost of daily living.

Yusuf Bako, the spokesperson of the pensioners, kicked against illegal deduction from their monthly pensions and urged the state government to urgently effect harmonization owing to the diminishing purchasing power of Naira.

Bako, a former chairman of, Association of Senior Civil Servants in Edo State, threatened that the next protest would be a mother of all protests if the state government fails to grant their request.

Also, speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, Gordon Osamunyi said: “We are all pensioners that are alive, we all have issues with the state government, ranging from harmonization and consequential adjustment of the N30,000 minimum wage and every pensioner that is still alive today has issues with the government.

“There is no harmonization of pensions which has led to people who retired on the same salary grade level earn the same pension irrespective of the time they retired. This is in the constitution but the Edo State government has not done so. There are increases that would have harmonized salaries but they were not done dating back to the period of Lucky Igbinedion.”

Addressing the pensioners, Osaro Washington, a representative of the Edo State Pension Bureau, assured that all hands are on deck to sort the issues raised by the aggrieved senior citizens.

October 12, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

International Day of the Girl-Chid: No Digital Revolution Without Nigerian Girls – One Day Minister

by Folarin Kehinde October 11, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

14 year Old Dorcas Joshua has said that there can not be a digital revolution without access to the digital world by the Nigerian Girls.

Joshua while speaking in Abuja on Monday at the commemoration of the 2021 International Day of the Girl-Child in Abuja that noted there is a huge gender divide in access to digital literacy in favour of boys and as such, digital revolution therefore cannot be without Nigerian girls.

Joshua expressed concern over the poor transition of the Girl-Child from the lower basic education to the upper basic education.

Joshua explained that 58 per cent for the northern states of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara are affected, the national average for girls’ transition from primary to junior secondary stands at 64 percent, a record which is unacceptable.

She added that girls’ enrollment, and transition, continue to be jeopardized and even where enrolled, girls are less likely than boys to complete secondary education due many obvious reasons.

She however assured that she will in her own capacity ensure that more secondary schools are built in all states to match the number of
girls graduating from primary schools with maximum of 2 km distance from their homes.

Also ensure school connectivity to internet with modern facilities for all Nigerian children, increase investment in education to close the gender digital divide and Invest in knowing more about girls’ and young women’s digital realitiand supporting the learning solutions that is fit for their digital world.

“Invest in knowing more about girls’ and young women’s digital realitiand supporting the learning solutions that is fit for their digital world, support safe spaces for girls such as Girls for Girls (G4G) groups adolescent girls in schools.

Also support mentoring and Life skills in schools especially for girls and work with community based structures especially Traditional
Religious leaders in addressing social and gender norms in the society.

UNICEF, Innovation Manager, Mr Minu Limbu stated that over 1.3 million Nigerian adolescent girls are estimated to drop out every year before reaching the last year of lower secondary school.

Limbu explained that the gender digital in connectivity, access to devices and the skills to use are real but girls are less privileged in this area.

He disclosed that on digital access, in low and middle income countries such as Nigeria, more than 50% of women are offline, and 20% less likely than men to own a smart phone.

He therefore ask for improved access to digital skills and other life skills by girls for transition to secondary education.

October 11, 2021 0 comments

Entertainment

GUS: Toke Makinwa to Anchor Show

by Folarin Kehinde October 10, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

Popular OAP Toke Makinwa has been unveiled as host for the 2021 edition of the survival reality show, Gulder Ultimate Search.

She was unveiled on Saturday less than 24 hours after the organisers tasked over 61,000 Instagram followers to guess the show’s new host.

“It’s about time! The age of craftsmanship is upon us and@tokemakinwais ready for the journey. Welcome to the #GulderUltimateSearch,” the video’s caption reads.

Confirming the announcement, Makinwa also shared the video via her Instagram page.

My name is Toke Makinwa. I am the anchor of the Gulder Ultimate Search – The Age of Craftmanship. Now let the adventures begin,” she said.

She added: “Gulder Ultimate Search is back and guess who your host of the season is????

“You guessed correct. The TM season is fully on.

“The council of elders called, the age of Craftsmanship is finally upon us, see you at the jungle.”

October 10, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

After 15 Years, FG Confirm Census, 2022

by Folarin Kehinde October 10, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

A national population and housing census, which was last held in Nigeria 15 years ago, will hold in the country next year, thanks to the N178.09 billion approved for the exercise in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who made the disclosure during the public presentation and breakdown of Budget 2022 in Abuja, yesterday, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari would make a proclamation on the planned 2022 headcount soon.

Ahmed explained that the recent review of the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) was motivated by a number of factors, including the need to provide the funds for the headcount.

The last population census held in 2006, puts the nation’s population at 140 million people, but was plagued by political interference, from design through to implementation.

Since then, Nigeria has not conducted a population census, relying on estimates from Worldometre, an arm of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In December 2020, the National Population Commission (NPC) announced that an estimated 206 million people were living in Nigeria, an increase of eight million people in two years, against the 198 million it announced in 2018.

The finance minister also revealed an additional N100 billion in the 2022 Budget estimates to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepare for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

Giving further insight into why the MTEF was reviewed, the minister said the increase in the expenditure side was also motivated by the need to provide for additional critical expenditures, as well as the need to present a more comprehensive FGN Budget.

October 10, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

MTN Neglect Nigerians Over Network Failure for Hours

by Folarin Kehinde October 9, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

Mobile Telecommunication Giant, MTN Nigeria neglected Nigerians despite the irrational and bad network service across the nation.

Meanwhile Nigerians have taken to social media to lament as local mobile network MTN suffers network disruptions, after days Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp were hit by major outages.

Complaints of MTN’s disrupted data services flooded social media websites such as Twitter on Saturday.

The data network problems started at exactly 3pm (NGT), Vanguard gathered.

Meanwhile, MTN has not released any statement on the outage at the time of filing this report.

October 9, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

Continuous Borrowing will Mortgage our Future – PRP

by Folarin Kehinde October 9, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Chairman, Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP) Falalu Bello has said that the continuous borrowing of money to fund budget and implement infrastructure deficit is tantamount to mortaging the future of Nigerians.

Falalu while speaking over the weekend at a press briefing in Abuja stated that continuous borrowing in the face of reduction in revenue earnings is wrong and akin to mortaging the Nigerian future particularly to the foreign lenders thus, gradually again taking the Nigerian Nation and future into servitude.

According to Falalu, Nigeria’s public debt stock in the 5 years has increased by 161% with total debt at N35.5 trillion with debt servicing at N3.34 trillion, a very serious and dangerous trend.

Similarly, Falalu expressed disappointment over the huge cost of governance stated that it was wrong to spend 35% of the of the 2020 budget on wage bill and suggested that cost of running governments at the federal level be drastically reduced.

Falalu opined that there should be reduction in the executive arm of government at all levels inclusive of the presidency, reducing the unacceptable debt profiles of the federal and some state governments putting pressure on revenues on debt servicing while
MDAs with duplicative functions should be merged.

He however appeal to the National Assembly to stop these further borrowing and ensure that the executive show to us the immediate use of past borrowings, how the government intend to service these debits and what steps are being taken to increase foreign exchange earnings of the nation with room for growth and meaningful exchange rate as servicing of foreign debts is done in foreign currencies.

In order to achieve these, Falalu noted that the party will through the Nigerian Press ask Nigerians to start a text protest to members of the House of Representatives and the Senators by asking the Nigerian Youth to reach out to leadership of House of Representatives and Senate as well as the members representing them to protest increase in borrowings and request the reject current additional borrowing.

October 9, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

FRSC Reads Riot Act on Tokunbo Tyres, Others

by Folarin Kehinde October 9, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said the use of expired tyres, popularly called tokunbo, is a death trap, hence, users are in violation of the law and liable to prosecution.

Also, any driver carrying fake and forged documents will be arrested and fined. Likewise, any road safety official caught receiving bribes, as well as any member of the public caught giving bribes will both be arrested and punished according to law.

Akwa Ibom Sector Commander of the FRSC, Matthew Olonisaye made this known in Uyo recently.

Olonisaye said that tyres expire three years after manufacture, adding that anyone driving with expired tyres that may burst anytime is endangering his life, as well as that of the passengers.

In the same vein, Olonisaye lamented the attitude of some motorists plying the road with fake documents and patronising touts instead of visiting the assigned centres. He advised the public against the act

However, Olonisaye warned that any FRSC official caught receiving bribes will face the law.

He said: “Giving and receiving bribes is an offence. I use this opportunity to warn my officers against collecting bribes and anybody caught will be dealt with in accordance with our laws.”

The Sector Commander stressed that motorists using illegal, fake plate numbers will also face the law.

October 9, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

Nigerians To Start Paying Tax On Carbonated Drinks January 2022– Finance Minister

by Folarin Kehinde October 9, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

As part of measures to shore up Federal Government revenues, the Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has insisted that there is no going back on imposing exercise duties on carbonated drinks.

She said this will be part of the additions in the 2021 Finance Act which will take effect from January 2022.

This was part of the revelations made at the ‘Public Presentation and Breakdown of the Highlights of the 2022 Appropriation Bill.’

The debate of taxing carbonated drinks began in 2019 when Ahmed said the government was considering to implement the initiative at a World Bank/International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington DC, United States.

During her 2022 budget breakdown, Ahmed said introduction of the duties will be contained in the 2021 Finance Bill.

She said the ministry and all parties involved will finish the draft by the end of October, while the bill will be sent to the legislators for passage.

The 2020 Finance Act brought in changes that exempted minimum wage earners from paying personal income tax.

On the 2021 Finance Bill, Ahmed said, “Yesterday what was presented was the Federal Government budget along with the budget of 63 government owned enterprises, the Finance Bill work we are doing is not yet complete and will be completed within the month of October, hopefully by November we can send that to the National Assembly.

“To further enhance independent revenue generation, government aims to optimise the operational efficiencies and revenue generation focus of the government owned enterprises.

“The introduction of new and further increases in existing pro-health taxes for example exercise duties on carbonated drinks- this is work in progress but it will happen in the 2021 Finance Act.

“Government’s revenue performance and remittances will become enhanced through effective implementation of the performance Management Framework including possible sanctions should their be default on targets that are set for government owned enterprises.

“The Finance Bill 2021 will contain measures that will further advance the implementation of the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI).”

October 9, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

2021 World Egg Day: PAN urges FG to resuscitate Poultry Industry

by Folarin Kehinde October 8, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

As Nigeria joins the world to commemorate the 2021 World Egg Day, the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has appeal to the Federal Government to resuscitate the collapsing Poultry Industry.

National President, PAM, Ezekiel Mam, represented by the Director General, PAM, Dr. Onalo Akpan while speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday stated that while the production system is getting difficult daily the purchasing people’s power is eroding and the prices of the final poultry product is now going up, issues that farmers are contending with.

According to Mam, poultry farmers are now losing money and if this continues, the Industry will collapse with negative consequences inherent.

Mam explained that the political economic importance of the poultry
industry is evidenced by the fact that the Industry has consistently contributed over 25% to the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) of the national economy.

He added that in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Agenda ahead of us, the money importance of poultry products especially chicken and eggs which contributes about 36.5% of the protein intake of Nigerians would need to be taken seriously.

Mam, however appeal to the government to as a matter of policy, resuscitate some national programmes that will assist to ameliorate the health of Nigerians using egg as part of the country’s nutritional program.

He further stated that intensifying the School Feeding Program where an egg a day per Nigerian child can be meaningfully implemented in the country is key as the supplies of the eggs to school should be handled directly by the farmers rather than contracting it to contractors .

Mam added that egg should be part of the Prisons Feeding Program including various Peace Keeping Operations across the country and other parts of the world.

“In our Emergency Management Program, Eggs should be considered as a priority food product that could be supplied to displaced people at various locations IDPs or camps throughout the country”. He concluded.

October 8, 2021 0 comments

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