Flowerbud News

Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court declares Natasha winner Kogi central senatorial election

    BREAKING: Appeal Court declares Natasha winner Kogi central senatorial election

     

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Tuesday, declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party as the duly elected candidate for the Kogi Central Senatorial Election held in February 2023.

     

    The court further dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress for lacking in merit.

     

    The state’s Election Petitions Tribunal, in September, had declared Akpoti-Uduagan winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election, PUNCH Online reports. It also invalidated the victory of Ohere.

     

    The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako, delivered the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel, revealing that Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

    He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission reduced Natasha’s results in those areas and omitted the results of three other polling units meant for Natasha in the same LGA.

     

    The Tribunal judgment led Ohere to seek redress. However, the Appeal Court further maintained that Akpoti-Uduagan won the election.

     

    Reacting to the appeal court verdict, Akpoti-Uduagan, posted “We won the Appeal. Joy amidst tears. Thank you Kogi Central. This is us together 🙏🏽”

    on her official Facebook page

  • DNA is definitely a must’, Mohbad’s wife, Omowunmi, breaks silence

    DNA is definitely a must’, Mohbad’s wife, Omowunmi, breaks silence

    Omowunmi Aloba, the wife of the late Nigerian rapper, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has stated that it is a must to conduct a DNA test to prove the paternity of her 6-month-old son, Liam.

     

    Omowunmi made this known in a chat with the popular Nigerian actress and one of the frontrunners in the justice for Mohbad calls, Iyabo Ojo.

     

    In the screenshot of the chat, which was made available on Iyabo Ojo’s official Instagram account on Tuesday, Omowunmi revealed that conducting the test is no longer an option but a necessity.

    Following Mohbad’s passing on September 12, 2023, there have been ongoing debates among concerned Nigerians about the necessity of taking a DNA test on the artiste’s son.

    In response to these discussions, the late rapper’s wife said she’s ready to share her side of the story with the world.

    According to her, she initially decided not to say anything on the development to avoid distractions and give the police ample time to conduct an investigation into the death of her late husband, stating that getting justice is the most important thing for her.

     

     

     

    She said, “I’ve decided not to speak on anything until 7th of November which is the coroner inquest because i do not want any side distraction,all I want is Justice for my husband which i believe the Nigeria government are working on, after everything I’ll either grant an interview or tell my own story before the whole world, and also DNA is definitely a must!!!”

  • We’ll revoke licenses of underperforming DisCos, GenCos in Nigeria – Adelabu

    We’ll revoke licenses of underperforming DisCos, GenCos in Nigeria – Adelabu

    The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the Federal Government will not renew licensing agreements for under-performing electricity distribution and generation companies in Nigeria.

    Adelabu disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of the three-day inaugural Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, Market Participants and Stakeholders Roundtable, NMPSR, in Abuja.

     

    He lamented that 10 years after the privatisation of the power sector in November 2013, operators have failed to achieve its set out objectives.

    He insisted that for operators that have not met expectations, their licenses will be revoked.

     

    He said, “I mentioned that ten years later, the licences are expiring, and it’s time for renewal. Renewal is not automatic. Any privatised companies that have not lived up to expectations will not have their licence renewed. We have to know whether you have complied with the terms and conditions of the licence you have been given.

     

    “I mentioned in my speech that most countries do not privatise their electricity supply value chain from generation to transmission to distribution. But bad enough, we have done this; how can we work around the current status to achieve our priorities and objectives.

    And I said it’s not a job for one person or a set of stakeholders. It’s a job for everybody. We all have a role to play.

     

    “We must all come together and play our roles so that we come out strong and achieve success in the industry.

     

    “We’ll look at the technical capacities of the GenCos and the DisCos. We will look at the financial capabilities of the DisCos. How much investment have you made since you got this licence? How much improvement have you made to the infrastructure? Which AT&C losses have you reduced based on the agreement when you were given the licence? These are the very serious conversations we need to have with the private sector operators at the distribution and the generating companies level.”

    recalls that in November 2013, the power sector was privatised, with six power generation plants and 11 electricity distribution companies

     

  • Minister alerts Nigerians on fake humanitarian trust fund portal

    Minister alerts Nigerians on fake humanitarian trust fund portal

     

    Abuja:  The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has alerted Nigerians to the existence of a portal designed by undesirable elements to defraud Nigerians.

     

    She said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the “FG Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund Registration Portal is fake”, and did not emanate from the ministry or any other agency of government.

    The said portal is fake, created by undesirable elements with the sole intention of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

    ”There will never be a portal from either the ministry, departments, and agencies of government or its partners to apply in order to access funds from the humanitarian and poverty alleviation trust fund.

     

    ”The general public is, therefore, advised to discountenance the link being circulated,” the minister said.

     

    The said portal is fake, created by undesirable elements with the sole intention of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

    ”There will never be a portal from either the ministry, departments, and agencies of government or its partners to apply in order to access funds from the humanitarian and poverty alleviation trust fund.

    ”The general public is, therefore, advised to discountenance the link being circulated,” the minister said.

  • FG to integrate 10 million Almajiri, out-of-school children to schools – Minister

    FG to integrate 10 million Almajiri, out-of-school children to schools – Minister

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu has said that the federal government will soon integrate the over 10 million Almajiri and out-of-school children with the established National Commission for Almajiri and out-of-school children with a view to ensure they learn skills that will make them self-reliant.

    The Minister was speaking in Sokoto Saturday at the interaction with Ulamas and officials of the Sokoto state government on the establishment of Almajiri and out-of-school children Commission and the takeover of Government Science Technical College Wurno for the formal integration of Qur’anic education and skills acquisition system to forestall Almajiri syndrome and curtailed the number of out of school children roaming the streets.

    He said with the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children by the federal government the increased number of Almajiri and out-of-school children roaming the streets of urban centers will drastically be reduced to the barest minimum.

     

    ” I am in the state to intimate Ulamas and the state of on the existence of the National Commission for Almajiri and out-of-school children established by the federal government and to garner for your support and cooperation,” says the Minister.

     

    “We are not in any way trying to rob you of your traditional Qur’anic schools, ” we only want the students to have some vocational skills after graduation which will earn them a living and a recognize certificate after graduatión.”

     

    According to the Minister, the federal government would formally launch the program in Sokoto which is home to a renowned reformer scholar Sheikh Usmanu Danfodiyo of blessed memory.

     

    Earlier in his remarks, the secretary to the state Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Sifawa who represented the state governor at the interaction session between the Minister, the Ulamas and school principals said, the state government would give full support and cooperation to the new commission.

     

    He said Sokoto state was the first to introduce Almajiri School in the country before the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan saw the beauty in it and officially directed the establishment of similar schools in the northern part of the country.

     

    “I am optimistic the new commission going by its contents will reduce unemployment and create jobs among the teaming graduates, the Ulamas, Almajiri and out of school children who will learn vocational skills.”

    The commission should endeavour to employ from the state Junior staff on grade level One to Sixth as done in other sectors operating in the state.

     

    The state governor Ahamed Aliyu Sokoto has made Education as one of the cardinal objectives of his administration 9 points agenda.”

     

    ” The Governor has directed the immediate renovation of staff quarters of Government Science Technical College Wurno where the commission is expected to kickstart its programs.”

     

    In his remarks, the executive secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and out-of-school children Hon Sha’aban Sharada said Nigeria has over 500,000 out-of-school children roaming the streets, which he said the commission hopes to reintegrate in its new school integration programs.

     

    He said the commission when Commencing full operation would reintegrate back to school over 10 million Almajiri and out-of-school children into the new system.

    We will also employ over 200,000 by 2017 as either facilitators, teachers, and other skills and unskilled staff in the commission’s designated schools around the country” stated the executive secretary

     

  • NYSC deploys 1,691 prospective corps members in Bauchi State

    NYSC deploys 1,691 prospective corps members in Bauchi State

    NYSC has deployed 1,691 prospective corps members in Bauchi State for the 2023 Batch ‘C’, Stream 1 orientation exercise.

     

    Mrs Rifkatu Yakubu, Coordinator of the scheme in Bauchi State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Bauchi that the exercise would begin on Nov. 1 and end on Nov. 21.

     

    It would hold at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state, she said.

     

    Yakubu added that prospective corps members would be allowed into the camp only after certification to ensure that there was no intrusion or impersonation of any corps member and to ensure security.

     

    “Registration dates have been assigned to each prospective corps member and they are advised to adhere strictly to all the camp rules and regulations.

     

    “Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the NYSC by-laws,’’ she said.

     

    Yakubu reiterated that the scheme frowned at late night journeys and urged prospective corps members to comply.

     

    She also advised corps members to be punctual, diligent and to comply with the camp’s acceptable dress code, adding that violation of the dress code would not be tolerated

  • Gunmen Attack Security Team In Abia, Behead Vigilante Member

    Gunmen Attack Security Team In Abia, Behead Vigilante Member

    A vigilante was beheaded in Abia State when gunmen attacked a team of security personnel in the Ossioma area of the state.

    The spokesperson of the Abia State Police Command Maureen Chinaka confirmed the vigilante’s death in a Friday statement.

     

    “Yesterday 26/10/2023 At about 15:50 hrs, Abia State Police officers stationed at Osisioma Police Headquarters received credible information concerning an attack on a group of security personnel in Isiahia village, Umuojima, Osisioma. The attacked team included one policeman, one special constabulary personnel, and three vigilante men,” she said.

     

    “Upon arrival, an unregistered Sienna bus and a headless corpse were discovered. Through investigation, the deceased was identified as Obinna Ndukwe, also known as Socket, who was a member of the Abia State vigilante and often collaborated with the police. The body of the deceased has been evacuated and deposited in the mortuary.”

    While reiterating that no police officer was killed in the attack, the command is vowing to probe the incident.

     

    “We would want to clarify that no police official was killed during the incident. Furthermore, our officers successfully recovered the vehicle used by the hoodlums in the attack and efforts are underway to apprehend the perpetrators,” the police added.

     

    “We urge all citizens to remain calm and security-conscious while going about their activities.”

  • 24 govt polys, education colleges converted to varsities

    24 govt polys, education colleges converted to varsities

    No fewer than 24 polytechnics and colleges of education have been converted to universities by the federal and state governments, The PUNCH reports.

     

    However, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and education reform activists tagged the move as a plan to “bury” the essence of technical education in the country.

     

    Over the years, governors and members of the National Assembly came under fire over what was tagged as the unlawful proliferation of universities in the country.

     

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, in a statement, warned against the establishment of new universities amid paucity of funds for the sustainability of the established institutions.

    Experts argued that the trend of upgrading polytechnics and colleges of education to universities was becoming worrisome considering the function the two cadres play in producing middle-level manpower.

     

    Polytechnic education provides technical and vocational training, technology transfer and skills development to enhance the socio-economic development of the country, while colleges of education are tasked with producing professionally-trained teachers for vocational and technical secondary schools to meet the nation’s requirements for technological take-off as provided in the National Policy on Education.

     

    Recently, the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government approved the conversion of two colleges of education, namely the Adeyemi College of Education and the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, to universities.

    Earlier in the year, the immediate-past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, converted the state-owned college of education, Saadatu Rimi College of Education, into a university.

     

    The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, upgraded the state-owned Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a university of education.

     

    Earlier, the immediate-past governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, announced the conversion of the Osun State College of Education, Ilesha, to the University of Ilesha.

     

    Similarly, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, announced the conversion of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and the Michael Otedola College of Education to the Lagos State University of Education.

    The governor also announced the upgrade of the Lagos State Polytechnic to the Lagos State University of Science and Technology.

     

    In March 2022, the former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, received approval from the National Universities Commission to upgrade the state-owned Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, to a university.

     

    The immediate-past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, in 2021, announced the conversion of the College of Education, Agbor, to the Delta State University of Education, and the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, to the Delta State University of Science and Technology.

    of the other affected polytechnics and colleges of education are the Abia State Polytechnic; Abia State College of Education; Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Studies; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Federal Polytechnic, Ofa; Yaba College of Technology; and the Kaduna State Polytechnic, among others.

     

    Though the Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, noted that the reason for the upgrade of the institutions to universities was to increase access to university education for citizens, the National President of ASUP, Dr Anderson Ezeibe, described it as a frivolous upgrade and a “manifestation of lack of consistency in pursuit of vision by proprietors of public polytechnics in the country.”

     

    Ezeibe stated, “Polytechnics were established to produce professionals in technical/technological and vocational education, which should address national manpower needs in such a direction. This is why the practical component in the curricula for polytechnics is higher as they are expected to produce people with hands-on expertise. This is not the same with universities.

     

    “The question for those who are on this voyage of conversion, like the Lagos State Government, is whether the need for such manpower has been satisfied. The principal reason for the poorly-thought-out conversion is just because the enrolment figures are dropping across polytechnics due to the discrimination against the polytechnics and their products as well as the rustic and anachronistic policies of the government on degree-awarding status for the polytechnics.”

     

    The ASUP President raised the alarm that the future of that level of tertiary education was at risk.

     

    He added, “That’s the reason why our union is crying out as the future of the polytechnics is at stake. Our proposal of allowing polytechnics to attain degree-awarding status will resolve all these issues: satisfy the quest for degree-level certification, deepen technical/technological education through curricula enhancement, retain the expanding pool of qualified manpower in the polytechnics, attract funding, and stop the HND/degree dichotomy.

     

    “We are saying that polytechnics should retain the OND certification as middle-level manpower and use the same as feed for a bachelor of technology certification to be awarded by polytechnics in their names as polytechnics if requirements to be set out for this are met.”

  • UniAbuja promotes 23 lecturers to professorial rank

    UniAbuja promotes 23 lecturers to professorial rank

    The University of Abuja has approved the promotion of 23 academic staff to professorial rank. While 13 of the staff got promoted to the rank of professor, 10 others were elevated to the rank of associate professor.

    A statement by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, said, “The University approved the promotion of the staff at its 80th Regular Meeting of the Appointment and Promotion Committee (A&PC), held on Friday 16th June 2023.”

    Council had at various times considered and approved the promotion of the staff to the professorial rank, subject to favourable external assessment. Upon receipt of assessments, the University sought the approval of the Ministry of Education for the release of the promotion to the beneficiaries, subject to the ratification by the Governing Council when it is constituted.

     

    “The exercise reveals that the academic staff were promoted across several disciplines which include education foundation, medical microbiology, geography, environmental science, history and diplomatic studies, and soil science,” the statement said.

     

    Other disciplines were Christian religious studies, biological science, statistics, microbiology, veterinary medicine, chemical engineering, public administration, biochemistry, obstetrics and geology, and microbiology and parasitology.

     

    While congratulating the newly promoted staff, the Vice chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, described them as hardworking academics, who were committed to the advancement of knowledge in their various fields of endeavour.

     

    Na’Allah said, “This is a well-deserved recognition of your dedication. Your promotions not only reflect your individual accomplishments, but also serve as a testament to the University’s commitment to nurturing and supporting its academic community.

     

    “You have all consistently demonstrated your unwavering commitment to your respective fields. I will ask you not to relent in impacting your field of knowledge. I encourage you to embrace your roles as mentors, innovators, and catalysts for positive change, help to push the boundaries of knowledge, engage in more groundbreaking research, and inspire the next generation of thinkers and leaders.”