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Subsidy removal: Abdulrazaq approves N10k monthly palliative for all Kwara public workers
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, has approved ‘multi-billion naira’ palliatives to alleviate the effect of the petrol subsidy removal across different demographics in the state.
In June, the state government announced a three-day workweek adjustment to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal and the high transportation rate.
But the directive was later suspended due to “an advisory from the national economic council (NEC)”.
In a statement on Monday, the governor said he had approved the palliatives in line with the NEC’s new advisory for states to design their own independent responses to neutralise the effects of the recent removal of petrol subsidy.
The governor said one of the palliatives is a cash support of N10,000 for every public servant in the state, beginning in July.
He said the cash support would last till a new minimum wage is introduced.
“I have similarly approved the payment of new hazard and skipping allowances, and 100 percent CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors under our government’s payroll,” the statement reads.
“Nurses working for the state government will also enjoy a new regime of allowances. The essence is to check the attrition rate in the health sector, and attract and retain medics and specialists to provide improved, qualitative healthcare services for the people of the state.
“In the next few days, modalities for occasional distribution of food to poor and most vulnerable households would be activated.
This shall be nonpartisan and would be coordinated by a government team to be supported by respected stakeholders who would get inputs from traditional rulers, religious bodies, market leaders, trade unionists, and community-based organisations to generate the lists of beneficiaries and disburse accordingly.
“The Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) will also activate N500 million worth of conditional support for petty traders and MSMEs in the state.
“To boost farming, outputs and food security in the state, our government will pay to receive fertilisers and grains from the federal government. Modalities for the handling of these will be made available later.”
Abdulrazaq said he has also approved the extension of free bus rides for students of tertiary institutions and the continuation of the three-day work schedule.
“The whole idea of these interventions is to show empathy and deploy as much resources as the state can afford to support the people at this special time,” the governor added.
“Meanwhile, our government will be setting up a committee to interface with marketers on the need to curb extortionist tendencies as seen in the arbitrary fixing of prices of foodstuff. This practice imposes hardship on everyone.
“I identify with his excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strong commitment to sustainable economic reforms and the well-being of the Nigerian people. I believe that the current discomforts are just like the pains that precede the joyful birth of a child.”
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Sanwo-Olu to receive democracy award in Tanzania
The Association of Political Consultants Africa (APCA) has nominated Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, for the 2023 Democracy Award.
In a statement on Thursday, the organisation said the award recognises political leaders who have made significant strides in democratic leadership, development, and governance.
Temitope Lakisokun, APCA chairperson in Nigeria, said Sanwo-Olu has “demonstrated exceptional leadership by building the capacity of state secretaries and improving governance structures within Lagos state”.
She added that his efforts have set a benchmark for effective governance and democratic practices in Nigeria.
The award will be presented at the 7th Africa political summit & diamond awards billed for December 11-14 at Lux Marijani, Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Past recipients of the award include President Bola Tinubu, President William Ruto of Kenya and Abiy Ahmed, prime minister of Ethiopia.
Political leaders, consultants, and stakeholders from across the continent and beyond are expected at the event.
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Pride Cometh Before A Fall, “Do You Know Who I Am?”, By Emeka Monye
Last week, a video surfaced on various social media platforms, showing how a supposed member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh, emotionally, psychologically and physically assaulted a bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, who had come to deliver a parcel of snail to him, from a client.
In the said video, “Honourable” Alex Ikwechegh, representing Abia North and South at the House of Representative, was seen harassing, threatening and intimidating the less privileged driver, who despite all the shootings and threats to his life, remained calm.
Irked by what he described as the driver’s rude behaviour towards him, the federal lawmaker boasted that he could make the bolt driver dispear without trace and nothing would happen; he even went ahead to ask the driver to call the Inspector General of Police.
What was the driver’s offence? Simply because the lawmaker perceived him to be rude, hence his outburst to a fellow citizen whose social and economic status is at disparity with his. That is the system that we operate and run with, a dysfunctional one for that matter, where every political office holder and “very important personalities”, and the elites see themselves above the law and the law will not hold them accountable for their misdemeanours.
This is not the Nigeria we all yearn for, where intimidation, impunity reign above all other considerations, including constitutionAl provision which guarantees the right to human dignity. The country we all aspire to live as one nation-state and entity is where equity, justice, supersede all other considerations.
The driver’s encounter with the honourable is not a new phenomenon in the Nigerian socio-economic and political space. It cut across all spares of our national life, including private and public sectors. The phrase, “Do you know who I am” is a national lingo crept into the DNAs of most, if not all, Nigerians.
From the usual traffic jams in major cities and towns across the nation, to the shopping mall, down to the streets and filling stations, the spate of attacks on the less privileged Nigerians by these so-called influential elites clearly postulates the arrogance of personality among us, even when it is not needed, a typical Nigerian would want to show off and make the ordinary man feel intimidated.
Honourable Ikwechegh’s case only got to national prominence because of two major factors – his person and office he is occupying and the very fact that the bolt driver recorded the whole unpleasant event and posted it on social media, leading it to go viral.
Alex Ikwechegh has gone down into history as one of those Nigerians who has etched their names as one of the Intimidators, harassers and abusers of human rights and dignity. Sadly, what makes his actions and behaviour quite despicable is that he is of the youthful generation, a generation that has been clamouring for youths empowerment and inclusion in public governance.
The “Do you know who I am” croner has been ducked before a magistrate court in Abuja, for assault, leaving him to lick his wound of pride in disgrace and shame. At least, the bolt driver has shown that calmness and reasoning far outweighs the emotional outburst displayed by Alex Ikwechegh.
There are lessons – he has parted with a large sum of 500,000 Naira as bail funds, two sureties in like sum and I am certain, he will be asked to compensate the victim, Stephen Abuwatseya in financial terms. That is a learning curve for all those who think they can assault the less privileged and get away from it.
All these embarrassments were avoidable if the honourable had been honourable enough to control his emotional outburst, by just simply paying the gentle man bolt driver his professional fee
Emeka Monye Is A Journalist, Works With ARISE NEWS.
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10 feared dead as building collapses in Ibadan
No fewer than 10 individuals have reportedly lost their lives, while seven others were rescued in a building collapse in Jegede Olorunsogo, within the Ona Ara local government area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Confirming the incident to Vanguard, General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services, Rev. Akinyemi Akinyinka, said they received distress calls from the people in the neighborhood at 2 a.m.
According to him, “May I inform you that Oyo State Fire Services Agency received a distressed call at around 2 am this morning at Jegede Olunloyo area, Ibadan, of which 10 persons have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building, while 7 persons were rescued alive.”
“Rescue operation is still going on. I thank you.”
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