NEWS
Bayelsa Gov’t Begins Distribution of Palliative Foods
From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State government has begun the distribution of Federal Government food palliatives donated to the state governments, few days to the national protest against hardship and bad governance in the country.President Bola Tinubu had recently directed that 24 thousand bags of rice be donated to the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to assuage the suffering of Nigerians.
Speaking during the distribution of the items at a private warehouse in Yenagoa , Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku Obiyai, said governor Douye Diri has already directed that the items be given to vulnerable persons in all the political wards in the state. She said the state received 20 trucks of rice, totalling 24 thousand bags of 25kg rice from the Federal Government for distribution to the vulnerable people.He said: “We are distributing rice and garri. We received 20 trucks of rice from the Federal Government that is about 24 thousand bags of rice that is 25kg each.“We are distributing based on each senatorial district, today, we are doing central senatorial district, we are giving it to three local governments of Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma/Opokuma LGAs, tomorrow, we are distributing to Bayelsa East, that is Brass, Nembe and Ogbia LGAs, tomorrow by Wednesday, we are doing for Bayelsa West, Sagbama and Ekeremor LGAs.“The food items we are distributing, they are meant for the less privileged, vulnerable groups in the society, the governor has directed that no political appointee should take this food, all elected officer and the civil servants are exempted, it is people that have no jobs, the core vulnerable groups and those are the people that should get this food.“The sharing is done per ward; each ward will have 190 bags of 25kg of rice, and 30 bags of garri. The state government will complement the food items received from the Federal Government, so after now, there will be more distribution, the governor has been doing right from time.“Government is strictly monitoring the distribution at the ward level to guide against diversion,” She said.Governor Douye Diri had earlier on Monday directed for immediate distribution of rice palliatives from the Federal Government to rural communities in the state, stating that no political appointee or civil servant should benefit from it.Speaking during the 34th State Security Council meeting on Monday, said the bags of rice should not be shared on a party basis.He said: “This rice has no PDP face, has no APC face. It’s for every Bayelsan. No one should play politics with the distribution”, Diri stated this today in his opening remarks at the commencement of the 34th State Security Council meeting.Chairman of Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Walaman Sam Igrubia, said all critical stakeholders from each local government are involved in the sharing to avoid diversion.Governor has directed that all critical stakeholders in the local government should be involved in the distribution, these items are for the vulnerable, people that cannot afford a good meal for the day.“We are setting up a committee to monitor the distribution of the food items, and if we find out that any government functionary has taken any part of these palliatives for himself, the governor will frown at it seriously”.
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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