Uncategorized
Avoid war without end, Osinbajo, Ooni, Sultan warn secession agitators
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned groups and individuals calling for secession as a result of growing insecurity and perceived injustice, saying Nigeria cannot afford another civil war.
Indeed, the Vice President declared that agitation for disintegration could lead to a war without end and urged the political elite to rise up in defence of national unity.
Osinbajo, who spoke on Wednesday in Anambra State, received the support of two prominent traditional rulers – the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, with both royal fathers cautioning against calls for secession.
Osinbajo spoke during a meeting with All Progressives Congress governorship aspirants in Anambra State.
He expressed worry over the silence of the elite on the spate of attacks in the South-East and other parts of the country.
At the session organised by Anambra APC patriots, led by Dozie Ikedife, the Vice President said Nigeria should avoid “a war without end.”
He said, “Everyone who thinks they have some monies stored up somewhere, will eventually run out of money. Everyone who thinks they can go and hide somewhere, won`t even find a place to hide. In the end, everyone will suffer.
“Even if you don’t suffer, your parents, children, young and old people and your relations will suffer. We cannot afford a war in this country, we can`t afford it.”
The Vice President said the failure of the elite to act now would expose the country to danger.
He said, “I pray that our country will never know conflict, but I know that every conflict is as a result of elite failure to speak up the truth and tell the truth to their communities.
“If we don`t speak up against disunity, if we keep quiet and remain under the radar, the enemies of peace and those who want to promote disunity will have their way. And when this happens, we will find ourselves running helter shelter.”
At another event in Lagos, Osinbajo, the Sultan, the Ooni and the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, attributed rising agitations and dissatisfaction across the country to illiteracy and misinformation.
They spoke at the presentation of a book titled ‘Islam in Yorubaland: History, Education and Culture’, by the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN).
Osinbajo said it was saddening that those who are ill-informed have taken the mantle of demanding separation and promoting issues capable of pitching Nigerians against one another in a bid to achieving their agenda.
He argued that though the country was facing challenges and that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was exploring different options to bring about lasting solutions, Nigerians should support the government by shunning divisive rhetoric and their promoters.
The Vice President at the Lagos forum was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
He urged religious and traditional rulers to continue supporting the government in amplifying the message of peace and religious tolerance.
Sultan Abubakar said apart from history, religious leaders and scholars in Nigeria must feed their followers with the truth and the true meaning of the faiths they profess.
He called for religious tolerance to foster harmony across the country.
The monarch said it had become imperative for stakeholders to initiate policies that would bring down misinformation on religious differences.
Sultan Abubakar said calling for secession at the time Nigeria is seeking to fix its security apparatus.
Oba Ogunwusi also called for harmonious relationship among all tribes irrespective of their religious background. He called for unity among Nigerians.
He urged other regions to learn from the religious harmony in the South-West.
According to him, hardly is there a family in Yorubaland without having Muslims and Christians among them.
Despite this, Oba Ogunwusi said, it was rare finding people fighting over religion in the region.
Asiwaju Tinubu called for unity among Nigerians in the face of insecurity.
He urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s efforts at quelling insurgents and banditry in the country.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a different forum expressed optimism that the nation would soon overcome its security challenge.
He called for prayers for the nation to overcome the security situation.
He spoke at the 108th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention held at the Baptist International Conference Centre, KM 54 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Obasanjo said, “On the situation we are in the country, I am an incurable optimist about a number of things particularly about Nigeria. The situation in Nigeria threatening but we won’t be consumed by it.
“Keep praying that the situation will only be threatening, but we won’t be overcome by it. May we continue to prosper. Continue to pray for the nation’s leaders towards surmounting its challenges.
“The issue of insecurity is a very big challenge. We need prayers; we need you to continue to pray for the leaders in this country and continue to do your bit because the government alone cannot do it.”
Uncategorized
Just in: Edo govt announces N70,000 minimum wage for workers starting May 1
Just in: Edo govt announces N70,000 minimum wage for workers starting May 1
Edo State Government has approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the state.
The state governor Godwin Obaseki announced this on Monday while commissioning the new Labour House in Edo State.
He said the new minimum wage would come into effect on May 1st this year, which is Wednesday this wee
k.
Business
N50,000 presidential grant: 100,000 small businesses benefit in first phase
N50,000 presidential grant: 100,000 small businesses benefit in first phase
A total of 100,000 small businesses across the country have so far received a presidential grant of N50,000 under the first phase of the Trade Grants Scheme.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this, adding that one million nano businesses would benefit from the scheme.
A report by Saturday Punch quoted the minister as saying this through her aide, Terfa Gyado, in an interview with the newspaper.
Newstrends notes that the grant aimed at driving sustainable economic growth at the grassroots level will be disbursed with 70 per cent going to women and youths, 10 per cent individuals with disabilities, and five per cent senior citizens, and the remaining 15 per cent allocated to other groups.
Bank of Industry (BOI) was appointed as the executing agency for the funds.
The minister said the disbursement which began a few weeks ago would be distributed to 1,291 nano businesses in each of the 774 local governments in the country.
The Federal Government in December announced the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to empower small businesses as part of the Presidential Palliatives Programme.
It said a total of N200 billion would be disbursed through the BoI to support manufacturers and businesses across the country.
Aniete, giving an update on the scheme, said all verified applicants would receive their grants in subsequent phases.
The minister said, “The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme kicked off a few weeks back and disbursement has been made to the first batch.
“Each grant applicant gets N50,000 while the applicants are judged by the criteria of owning a nano business and being verified using their Bank Verification Number and their National Identification Number.
“So those who were successfully verified on the nature of their business and all other criteria have been able to get some of the initial disbursement.”
The minister said the grant was paid directly to beneficiaries’ accounts after proper verifications with a target to reach one million small businesses in the 774 LGs and the six council areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The target is for one million nano businesses across the 774 local governments across the federation and that works out to a total of 1,291 nano businesses per local government and that is how the spread is going to be.
“So far, the disbursement has hit about 100,000 small businesses and they have got the initial disbursement and the target remains one million. “Disbursement is still ongoing and we are still waiting for data from across all the states and it is an ongoing process.”
News
FG to launch new national ID card for payment, others
FG to launch new national ID card for payment, others
The Federal Government says it has concluded arrangements to launch a new National Identity Card with payment and other social service features.
It said the New National Identity card would be delivered in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
The project would be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme, Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Dr Kayode Adegoke, announced in a statement in Abuja.
The statement read, ”The National ID card, layered with verifiable National Identity features, is backed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates NIMC to enrol and issue a General Multipurpose card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
“This card will address the demand for physical identification enabling cardholders to prove their identity, access government and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion for disenfranchised Nigerians, empower citizens, as well as encourage increased participation in nation-building.
“Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request the card.
“The card, which will be produced according to ICAO standards, is positioned as the country’s default national identity card.
“In addition to this functionality, cardholders will also be able to use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking same to bank accounts of their choice.
“The card shall enable eligible persons especially those financially excluded from social and financial services have access to multiple government interventions programmes.”
Its key features are as follows:
Machine-readable Zone (MRZ) in conformation with ICAO for e-passport information
Identity card Issue Date and document number in line with ICAO standard.
Additional features are travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies, etc
Nigeria’s quick response code (NQR) containing the national identification number
Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and pictures, as the primary medium for identity verification through the data on the card chip
Offline capability that allows transactions in areas with limited network coverage or zero infrastructure connectivity
“Functionality as a debit and prepaid card catering to both banked and unbanked individuals
Request for cards by registered citizens and legal residents will be made available online, at any commercial bank, various agencies or agents participating in multiple programs and/or any NIMC offices nationwide
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