President Tinubu directs expansion of student loan programme – Newstrends
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President Tinubu directs expansion of student loan programme

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Tinubu directs expansion of student loan programme

President Bola Tinubu has directed an expansion of the focus of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to include students interested in skill-development programmes.

Tinubu gave the directive to the management of the Fund after receiving briefing on the build-up to the launch of the programme later in the month from the Executive Secretary of NELFUND, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President said it was important for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue university education, noting that skill acquisition is as important as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas. This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.

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“In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he said.

Tinubu emphasised the need for equity and inclusivity in the management of the programme, stating: “No matter how economically challenged you are, accredited and qualified students will and must have access to this loan to advance their education in higher institutions. There is no compromise in our commitment to the disadvantaged citizens of this nation.”

In his presentation to the President, Sawyerr said the loan application process will be technology-driven, limiting human interface and “eliminating any possibility of maladministration in the programme.”

“By design, this is a perpetual programme and will not terminate. The funds, earmarked for bona-fide Nigerian students, will be disbursed directly to the institutions in the initial phase through electronic transfer. Our students will be catered to in a way that bypasses human interference through the full utilization of available technological platforms, in adherence to Your Excellency’s stated objectives,” he said.

He also said NELFUND has developed a robust risk-mitigation mechanism to address potential risks that may arise from the programme.

President Tinubu directs expansion of student loan programme

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CBN in U-turn withdraws cybersecurity levy

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CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso

CBN in U-turn withdraws cybersecurity levy

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn the circular it issued to all commercial banks on May 6, 2024, directing them to implement a compulsory withdrawal of 0.05 per cent from every electronic transaction as cybersecurity levy.

The controversial directive for collection of the levy had attracted nationwide condemnation when the central bank introduced the policy last week, prompting the Presidency to immediately suspend the implementation of the Cybersecurity Levy.

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In a withdrawal circular that was issued by the CBN on Sunday night, it directed the banks not to go ahead with the initial directive, in line with the presidential directive. The apex bank authorities claimed it’s a sign that the present administration was a listening one that prioritises public good.

“Further to this, please be advised that the above referenced circular is hereby withdrawn,” CBN director in charge of payments system, Chibuzo Efobi, and the director, financial policy and regulation, Haruna Mustapha, said in the circular, adding that all banks should “Please be guided accordingly.”

CBN in U-turn withdraws cybersecurity levy

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Minimum Wage: Labour returns for negotiation with FG Tuesday, looks beyond N100,000

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Minimum Wage: Labour returns for negotiation with FG Tuesday, looks beyond N100,000

The oganised labour says it will honour the invitation by the Federal Government for Tuesday, May 21, 2024 to continue the negotiation for a new minimum wage.

Even as it has announced readiness to back down on its earlier N615,000 proposal, it vowed not to accept N100,000 as the new minimum wage.

The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, pulled out of the negotiation meeting last Wednesday when the government offered N48,000 as new minimum wage.

However, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni, in a letter to the organised labour calling a meeting to be held tomorrow, indicated interest that the government would shift ground and asked the labour to do so too.

A report by Vanguard quoted the NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, as saying the organised labour would honour the invitation tomorrow but advised the government to be serious.

He said, “Our expectations are that government should be serious this time around. We expect them to take more seriously the issue of wages of workers.”

‘’So if the government is serious, it should not be thinking about N100,000. You know that when you create poor citizens, you create a poorer county,” he added.

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I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi

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Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi

I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has boasted that he has never for once accepted a bribe of any kind since he started active service as a police officer.

Adejobi, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), made this revelation in a post on his verified X account on Sunday.

The Force PRO, while responding to a netizen who asked if he had ever taken bribes before, said accepting bribes is a taboo for him as a royal prince.

According to him, accepting a bribe is not just ungodly but also affects someone somewhere anytime it is taken.

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He noted that the essence of life is to put smiles on the faces of others and not to be the source of their tears.

He further revealed that he has taken it upon himself to preach against accepting bribery to his fellow police officers and other people around him.

He wrote, “No. It’s a taboo for a royal prince to take a bribe. Taking bribe definitely makes someone somewhere cry for many reasons, and it’s ungodly to do so. Your main purpose in life is to put smiles on people’s faces. It’s Godly and rewarding. It’s my personal principle and a call to duty. I preach this to my colleagues and many others always. May we have the grace to remain steadfast and purposeful in life.”

Adejobi, who is a prince from Orile-Owu Community in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, was reappointed as the Force PRO by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, in August 2023.

I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi

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