TheNewsGuru

Tag: economic hardship

  • Frustrated corp member lands in deep trouble for calling Tinubu’s govt ‘terrible’

    Frustrated corp member lands in deep trouble for calling Tinubu’s govt ‘terrible’

    A Corp member serving in Lagos State has raised alarm over threats she has been receiving from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) board following her viral video criticizing the Tinubu’s government over rising inflation and economic hardship.

    In the video that surfaced on TikTok, Rita via the handle @talktoraye, expressed frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria, lamenting how hard work seems futile in the face of the country’s financial struggles.

    Rita who broke down in tears, shared her frustration over the high cost of goods in the market, further calling President Tinubu’s government a “terrible” one for paying little attention to the hike in commodity prices.

    In the video, she said: “If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government. I just want to say to our president, I don’t know if there is any other president that is as terrible as you, but you are such a terrible president.”

    The serving corp member, in tears, further explained how the NYSC scheme has been less beneficial to her, having had to spend more than the allowance she receives

    “So, I am coming from a supermarket where I went to get foodstuff, and everything has gone up again. It’s just like every single week, prices keep increasing. I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? Is there going to be a particular time when prices will stop going up? Why am I going to get a crate of eggs and I’m told it costs N6,500? It doesn’t make any sense that eggs would cost that much. I literally remember when eggs cost N800. I am so overwhelmed because this is the first time I’ve stayed out of my family house.

    “After I left the supermarket, I got home, and the security and NEPA bills have skyrocketed, doubling in price. It is insane. I can’t keep up with these bills. Every single penny I make, I am using it to pay bills. The crazy thing is, you want to go out with your friend, and Uber is N25,000. Why are things so expensive?

    “To make it worse, Lagos stinks. Everywhere smells. What is the government doing about the smell? Being an NYSC Corper, there is nothing so beneficial about this scheme. The money I spend on transportation is much more than the allowance the federal government pays us. We should start calling out the government. For example, Tinubu, you are a terrible person. What are you doing to help our economy?”

    Barely 24 hours after the video went viral, the young corp shared another video disclosing that she has been receiving numerous calls from NYSC to keep quiet and bring down the video she posted.

    The Corps member further explained that she has been receiving calls from various NYSC officials telling her to stop insulting the government and remove the video.

    Watch the video below;

     

     

     

  • Economic Hardship: Okpomo puts smiles on 42 Delta residents

    Economic Hardship: Okpomo puts smiles on 42 Delta residents

    Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Emevor in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Emmanuel Okpomo has once again provided monthly stipends to indigenes of his community to cushion the harsh effects of the economy on the people.

    Okpomo, who is the Executive Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Beautification, said beneficiaries of the stipend for the month of November were 42, comprising 30 from the five Isi-Emevor villages and 12 from Emevor Town.

    Presenting the November stipends on Friday at his Emevor country home, Chief Okpomo recalled that a total of 15 beneficiaries got N20,000 each for the month of October while 10 beneficiaries were paid N30,000 each in the month of September.

    The gesture also included N130,000 to Henry Onoridode to purchase a new mobile phone and N300,000 support for Miss Victoria Ogele & Mr Josiah Othuke and Miss Theresa Joseph & Oghenekaro Akpodarie both from the community for their marriage ceremonies on 29th and 15th December respectively.

    He said: “Last month we promised to scale up the number to 25 but today we have exceeded and increased the number to 42

    “This increase in the number is geared towards providing for more people as the economy continues to bite harder.”

    Chief Okpomo who was in company of former Vice Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Council, Hon. Anthony Odhe; Hon. Sylvester Ifode, Hon. Mike Ijire and other PDP Chieftains, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the stipends to better their lives and that of their families.

    Okpomo said the stipends were not Christmas largesse assuring that he would return to present gifts for the people to celebrate the yuletide.

    He called on the people to remain united and strong in faith believing that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was doing everything possible to make life more meaningful for Deltans.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Evi Otuata, Helen Ojo, Oghale Unuafe, Igho Ighodara and Lydia Ukavwe, commended Chief Okpomo for sacrificing to provide for the people and pledged their continued loyalty to the party and the government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

  • Hardship: First lady, Remi Tinubu to lead national prayer

    Hardship: First lady, Remi Tinubu to lead national prayer

    Nigerian First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu alongside the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, would lead national prayers to seek God’s intervention in the country’s economic hardship.

    The Director General of the National Prayer Forum (NPF), Segun Balogun Afolorunikan  made this known in a statement in Abuja. 

    According to the DG of national prayer forum, the theme of the 2024 national prayer is “Seeking the Intervention of God in Nigeria’s Affairs.”

    Afolorunikan explained that the event, organized in collaboration with Christian and Muslim leaders, would usher Nigeria into 2025 with renewed hope and purpose.

    “By the end of this prayer session, we believe that with God’s wisdom, our leaders and citizens will find the strength to confront our common enemies,” Afolorunikan said.

    According to NPF director, “Muslims will gather at the National Mosque in Abuja for seven days, during which 313 individuals will recite the Qur’an, culminating in the recitation of the Holy text 2,191 times for national stability“.

    “Christians will meet at the National Ecumenical Centre for a week of intense prayer, with prayer warriors from various denominations focusing their efforts on the nation’s adversities.”

    He also told Daily Trust that “extensive outreach had been conducted, including meetings with leaders from the National Mosque, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and traditional leaders such as the Sultan of Sokoto.“

  • I cannot deceive myself – Igbokwe says as he reveals how he’s surviving hardship

    I cannot deceive myself – Igbokwe says as he reveals how he’s surviving hardship

    Joe Igbokwe, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has taken to social media to share some of the things he’s doing to cope with the prevailing economic hardship.

     Igbokwe, via his Facebook on Saturday, said that he no longer drives his car or goes everywhere due to the high fuel cost.

    He added that, to cope with the high electricity tariff, he switches off 70% of electric appliances in his house.

     “I don carry my motor comot for road oooo. No be anywhere I de go now. For house we don switch off 70% of the electricity to survive oooo. Life na teacher ooooo,” he wrote.

     “I am adjusting to the new reality. I cannot deceive myself,” he added.

    The APC chieftain’s revelation is coming barely a week after he disclosed that he is paying more than he used to pay for his small office in Surulere.

    According to the Staunch supporter of the Bola Tinubu-led administration, before the electricity tariff hike, he used to buy 300 units for ₦20,000, and it lasted for a long time, powering his Surulere Office and its 7 Air Conditionals.

    He detailed the drastic change, stating that the same ₦20,000 worth of units now only power his office for a single day, significantly decreasing utility.

    He urgently appealed to President Tinubu, stating, “PBAT (President Bola Tinubu), please look into the new electricity tariff in Nigeria. It will have a devastating effect on businesses if the government does not act as quickly as possible. I have a small office in Surulere with about 7 units of AC.

    “We used to buy 300 plus units for ₦20,0000. Yesterday (Friday) we bought ₦20,000 worth of units and it lasted for just one day. They call it band A group. I pray that we review this. “

  • BREAKING: House of Reps slash salaries by 50% over nationwide hunger

    BREAKING: House of Reps slash salaries by 50% over nationwide hunger

    The members of the House of Representatives have agreed to slash their salaries by 50 percent for six months as part of their solidarity and support to address the widespread hunger across the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the move by the reps is followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion’s prayer moved by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50% of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support Nigerians.

    Kalu noted that the salary cut is to be used to support the federal government’s efforts to address the rising cost of foodstuffs in the country to ameliorate the hardship Nigerians are going through.

    Kalu’s amended prayer was to a motion by Rep Isiaka Ayokunle calling on proponents of the planned nationwide protests to jettison the idea and engage the government in dialogue.

    The motion was adopted and referred to the committees on Humanitarian Affairs, Finance and Budget for compliance.

  • Economic woes causing untold hardship on lawyers – Afe Babalola

    Economic woes causing untold hardship on lawyers – Afe Babalola

    Aare Afe Babalola, a senior lawyer and the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has describe as worrisome the effect of economic hardship on many especially lawyers in the country.

    Babalola made his position known on Tuesday during the 13th edition of the Annual Aare Afe Babalola Public Bar Lecture, instituted by Ado-Ekiti branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in honour of legal icon.

    He expressed regrets that the economy of the country had been badly battered so much that lawyers, who were known to be comfortable financially before, are now living below subsistence level.

    He said, “This is more apparent in states that are landlocked, where most of the people rely on agriculture for business. Lack of modern transportation system, deplorable roads, lack of electricity for business have also compounded the matter, the more.

    “Today, those who believe in giving are less than those who want to receive. Farmers who want to plant are less than those who want to eat. Those who want to invest are far less than those who want to consume. Those who want to produce are less than those who want to consume.

    “Those who want to establish businesses are less than those who are seeking for employment. Those who want to engage in politics are more than those who want to work on their own. No wonder politics has become the most lucrative business in town today.

    “Lawyers who want to go to the Bench nowadays are more than those who want to remain in practice. Lawyers who insist on consultation fees are less than those who insist on the time-honoured practice.”

    In his lecture titled, ‘The Judiciary, yesterday, today and tomorrow’, the Provost, College of Law at ABUAD, Prof. Tunde Yebisi has advocated that the remuneration of judges, including those of inferior courts of records must be adequate and progressively increased to always be at par with those of the president, governors, and other State actors.

    Prof. Yebisi advised that such remuneration should be a continuous charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and disbursed, directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He said instead of using serving judges, retired judges, or respectable lawyers, preferably Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SANs) should henceforth constitute judges of electoral panels, to reduce incidences of coerce, intimidation, bribery and corruption, as well as keep the few judges available, in functional service

    Yebisi added there was currently a death of judges in the nation’s courts, saying many one should be employed, while the few ones available should be put into effective use, so as to also tackle cases of delay in the administration of of justice.

    “The senior members of the Bar, especially those who are young should be encouraged to join the bench, while modern IT facilities should be installed in the courts to facilitate quick dispensation of justice.

    “Apart from encouraging or expanding the jurisdiction of the inferior courts to handle small claims, it is advised that not all cases should go beyond the Court of Appeal, and sometimes, the High Court.”

    Continuing he said when judicial officers complained of attempts to bribe them, as was the case with the Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal in Kano, such complaints should be thoroughly proved, and appropriate sanctions, imposed

    “In addition, assets declared by persons holding public officers should be taken more serious, and claims, meticulously investigated.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ado -Ekiti Branch, Lawrence Fasanmi said Babalola’s immense contributions to the promotion of legal education and practice in the country, warranted the honour of the annual lecture, instituted during the administration of one of his predecessors, Owoseni Ajayi.

    Chairman of the occasion and royal father of the day, who doubles as Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, commended the farsightedness of the NBA, in instituting the annual lecture in honour of Babalola, who he described as a leading light in the nation’s legal field.

    He said the celebrator’s torrents of accomplishments in law, and his myrads of contributions to various NBA branches across the country, never made him to regret being motivated to train one of his children to become a lawyer.

  • NGO tasks FG on hardship in Nigeria

    NGO tasks FG on hardship in Nigeria

    The Ideal Women for Better Society (IWBS), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has appealed to the Federal Government to tackle the hardship being faced in Nigeria, ahead of the March 8 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.

    The President/Co-founder, IWBS, Mrs Juliet Anyata, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Anyata urged the government to take urgent action to address the root causes of hunger and hardship in the country.

    “This includes addressing poverty, inequality and conflict, as well as providing immediate humanitarian assistance to those in need.

    “We disapprove the current crisis worsened by previous economic instability, insecurity and climate changes, leaving many Nigerians struggling to feed and meet their daily basic needs.

    “Women and children are the most affected, facing widespread food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and even domestic violence.

    “We cannot stand idly by while hunger kills the children and husbands become depressed.

    “Many widows are already living on the streets because they can no longer afford house rents, looting and kidnapping are on the rise due to aggressive hunger,” she said.

    She said that a data from the World Food Programme indicated that over 20 million people in Nigeria were faced with severe food insecurity with millions of children at risk of malnutrition.

    “The situation is particularly dire in conflict-affected areas where access to food and essential services is limited,” she said.

    Also, the group’s secretary, Mrs Linda Ameh, called on the government to prioritise support for the most vulnerable people including children, the older persons and people with disabilities.

  • Hardship: Be self-reliant, Rep member urges constituents, empowers them with N10m

    Hardship: Be self-reliant, Rep member urges constituents, empowers them with N10m

    A member of House of Representatives, Mohammed Shehu, on Monday, urged his constituents to be self-reliant.

    Shehu, a member of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), representing Fagge Federal Constituency in Kano State, made the call while disbursing over N10 million to women and youths in his constituency at Fagge Model Primary School, Kano.

    He said that the money was meant for them to embark on small scale businesses in order to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship.

    The lawmaker said that 80 people from Fagge ‘C’ ward and Rijiyar Lemo would benefit from the empowerment involving both women and men.

    “As we pledged during our campaign that we would empower women and youths with finance to start up small scale businesses, today we are fulfilling that promise.

    “Some of you will get N200,000, some N150,000 while others will receive N100,000 each,’’ he said.
    Shehu enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the financial empowerment.

    “I hope that by this time next year, beneficiaries of this gesture will be able to support others.

    “I pray to Allah (SWT) to bless your businesses and bring more goodies to our community, Kano State and the nation at large,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker assured that by the end of March, other wards within the federal constituency would also benefit from the same gesture.

    In her remarks, Kano State NNPP Women Leader, Hajiya Zuwaira Tarauni, urged the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the empowerment.

    “You must ensure that you embark on small scale businesses so that you can help yourself and your family. I urge you not to relent in the pursuit of your dreams,’’ Tarauni said.

  • Hardship: 15 million households to receive monthly stipends of N25,000 each – FG

    Hardship: 15 million households to receive monthly stipends of N25,000 each – FG

    Wale Edun, the Minister of finance and coordinating Minister of the Economy, says the federal government is working to minimise the level of economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

    In an interview with newsmen on Friday, February 23, he stated that 15 million households will receive N25,000 for the next three months.

    “Mr president is bringing an intervention programme, which has direct payments of N75,000 each, over three months, that is N25,000 a month to 15 million households and each household is about five people. So that effectively provides funding for 75 million people.

    That all-important programme has been revamped to make sure that it is robust and to make sure that each beneficiary has a NIN number and a BVN number or access to mobile money accounts so that we are sure that the right people are paid and that the system is fraud-free.

    In addition, and this is really in addition to the intervention, to put food on people’s tables to make access to folk food affordable for the average Nigeria and that is the intervention to provide greens, for food and even for feed females. All in an effort to increase the availability of food in the markets.”, the Minister said.

  • Hardship: Customs ready to distribute seized food items to Nigerians – CG, Adeniyi

    Hardship: Customs ready to distribute seized food items to Nigerians – CG, Adeniyi

    Following the economic hardship that has engulfed the country, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has disclosed plans to distribute seized food items to Nigerians.

    This development was made known by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, saying that the food items will be distributed after they have been certified fit for consumption.

    In a statement by Customs National Public Relations officer, Abdullahi Maiwada on Tuesday, Adeniyi reaffirmed his commitment towards advancing President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.

    “Furthermore, to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and improve access to essential food items, the Nigeria Customs Service will facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government.

    “These items will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our Areas of Operations,” he said.

    The statement, however, did not disclose when the planned distribution will commence.