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Tag: Osinbajo

  • 7.6m children feed daily from FG’s school feeding programme – Osinbajo

    7.6m children feed daily from FG’s school feeding programme – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, said that about 7.6 million children in 22 states across the country were being fed daily under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

    Osinbajo made this known in Akure during an interactive session with beneficiaries of the NHGSFP and inspection of the N-Power Programme at Alagbaka Estate Primary School, Akure.

    He explained that the purpose of NHGSFP was to ensure that children in public primary schools across the country would have at least one very good meal daily.

    The vice president, who had lunch with the pupils, added that the meal would improve the children’s health, boost farming in the country and create job opportunities for some people.

    “I have tasted the food myself and I think it is the quite nice,” he said.

    Osinbajo said that another set of 300,000 Nigerian youths were to be engaged in the N-power programme.

    He explained that the new set of beneficiaries would teach in public primary schools, pointing out that 200,000 graduates were already benefiting from the programme.

    He described the N-Power programme as a very compelling testimony.

    “I have seen firsthand what the N-Power teachers are doing in the classroom, using tablets to teach. I was able to see it for myself and also use it in teaching the pupils.

    “As you know, in the programme, each of the teachers has a tablet which contains materials for teaching and I wanted to see in particular how they used the tablets and the materials.

    “I think it’s a very revolutionary thing for all these young men and women who have volunteered to participate in the programme,” he said.

    The Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu commended the Federal Government for the efforts in bringing both programmes to the state.

    He attributed the success of the programmes in the state to the positive relationship between the state and the federal government.

    “It is rather unfortunate that we are just joining. Our caterers in the NHGSFP are being paid monthly and this has improved the economy of the state.

    “The food that is served the pupils which I and the vice president ate was a sumptuous meal.

    “I believe we are on course. What we need to do is to ensure that we get more school pupils registered. The federal government is ready to feed them also,” he said.

    Earlier, Mrs Grace Ekpemogu, the Headmistress of the primary school, commended the federal government for the programme which she said, would guarantee the pupils one good meal a day.

    She said that NHGSFP would help increase the intelligence quotient of the pupils and also go a long way in repositioning the education sector, especially at the primary school level.

    Osinbajo also inspected the pilot scheme of the special intervention in energising markets as productive clusters at Isinkan Market, Akure.

    The market stalls are fitted with solar panels which supply lights as an alternate source of energy.

  • 2019: Watch Osinbajo, Akeredolu share meals with pupils

    2019: Watch Osinbajo, Akeredolu share meals with pupils

    As part of activities marking his official visit to Ondo State, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday paid a visit to Alagbaka Primary School, Akure.

    A tweet by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, says Osinbajo’s visit is meant to assess the Homegrown School Feeding programme of the Federal Government.

    He is a guest of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

    The Vice President joined pupils of Primary 3B during the English Language lesson.

    And when it was time for lunch, Osinbajo and Akeredolu relocated to Primary 3A, where they both shared the meal with the pupils.

    Said, Osinbajo, “After teaching, naturally it is lunch time.

    “The kids and I are eating lunch prepared by the @NHGSFP (Homegrown School Feeding programme)cooks in Ondo.

    “I must confess the meal is tasty.”

  • We shall continue to arrest, prosecute looters despite no conviction – Osinbajo

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the federal government will continue to make more arrest of suspected looters of the national treasury and put them on trial despite the difficulty in putting them behind bars.

    He also said corruption was fighting back as represented in the desperation by some “corrupt politicians” to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari was pushed out of power.

    Mr Osinbajo spoke in Akure on Thursday while launching the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) in the state.

    “We will continue to put them on trial even if they are not thrown into jail yet,” the vice president said.

    “We shall continue to arrest those who stole the nation’s money. They said we have not been able to convict anybody, we are not bothered, we shall continue to arrest and prosecute them. Let the case remain in court.

    “The corruption is desperately fighting back so that they can come back to into power. God will make it impossible.”

    He said those clamouring for the exit of the present government were those who want to continue to perpetrate corruption in the country.

    According to the vice president, the country should have no difficulty moving forward. He said the government of the All Progressive Congress would continue to do all within its powers to reposition the country.

    He said the present government had many developmental projects to point to as part of its achievements, saying the APC had outperformed the previous government of the Peoples Democratic Party which spent 16 years in power.

    According to him, the present federal government has earned less than 60 per cent of what the previous government earned, but his party had executed many developmental projects within the last three years.

    “We have access to lesser money than the previous administration but what we have been able to do are far more than what they did,” said Mr Osinbajo.

    “We are able to achieve this because we are spending what we have for the people. We have spent over N1.3 trillion on infrastructure to better the lives of Nigerians.

    “They promised Lagos- Kano rail line, they did not do it. We earned lesser than they had, we are doing it. Look at Lagos Ibadan rail line, they had much money, they did not do it, we are doing it. Look at Lagos -Ibadan Expressway, we are doing it.

    “We will continue to spend and invest on people, the difference between us and the previous administration is that we are not interested in stealing public funds and we hold ourselves responsible to account for every money spent in order to move the country forward because we believe this country should not experience any difficulty to move forward.”

    Mr Osinbajo pointed out that the federal government had earmarked about N500 billion for the MSMEs across the country but said only N8 billion had been expended on the programme despite the paucity of funds.

    He said more than 200,000 volunteers had been absorbed into the N-Power programme and additional 300,000 would soon be employed by the federal government.

  • Osinbajo arrives Ondo on two-day visit

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday arrived Akure, the capital of Ondo State, for a two-day official visit.

    Osinbajo’s aircraft touched down at the Akure airport at about 2.30 p.m, although locals had been waiting for him since 10 a.m.

    During the visit, Osinbajo will launch the Ondo State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, (MSMEs) clinic, which is expected to serve as tonic to economic and developmental activities in the state.

    His visit will feature interactive sessions with MSMEs and their products.

    He is expected to inspect the home grown school feeding programme at Alagbaka Primary School and the Federal Government’s Light Up project at Isinkan Neighbourhood Market in the state capital.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, members of the state executive council, lawmakers and security chiefs in the state were at the airport to receive the vice president.

    He immediately headed for the palace of the Deji of Akure, Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, for a courtesy visit before proceeding to the International Event Centre for a meeting.

    At the time of filing this report, Osinbajo was still meeting with and addressing people at the centre.

  • May Day: FG not ignoring workers’ demands, rights – Osinbajo

    May Day: FG not ignoring workers’ demands, rights – Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, assured workers that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is working tirelessly to make the country better as demanded by the workers.

    Osinbajo gave the assurance while speaking at the 2018 Workers’ Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Tuesday as he explained the implementation of the new national minimum wage.

    Nigerian workers from different agencies and unions converged at the Eagle Square on Tuesday morning to mark May Day as well as make their demands known to representatives of the Federal Government.

    The theme of this year’s May Day celebration is “Role of Labour and Workers in National Devolvement: Dare to Struggle and We Dare to Win.”

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2017 set up a 30-member tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee for the negotiation of a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    Buhari had said the inauguration of the committee followed the recommendation of a technical committee put in place after the increase in the price of petrol in 2016. He added that the current minimum wage being used in the country had expired.

    The new wage is expected to take effect from August 2018.

    The vice president said the argument for a new national minimum wage cannot be protested “because it is the minimum amount of compensation that an employee must receive for putting in his or her labour.

    “This administration has no intention of ignoring the demands of labour.

    “It is my hope that the tripartite committee will work to enable the federal government to send an executive bill on a new national minimum wage to the National Assembly for passage into law as soon as possible.”

    He called on all members of the Labour Union to remain united and cooperate with the federal government.

    The Vice President also stated that security in the nation is a collective responsibility as he urged Nigerians to cooperate fully with security agencies to help bring the perpetrators of criminal acts to justice.

    He urged Nigerian workers to pray as well as have faith in Nigeria.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, commended the trade unions for the battles won over the years.

    He enjoined workers to join the federal government in its fight against corruption.

    “This would be battle worthwhile as the output would stand the test of time and majorly contribute to national development,” he said.

    Earlier in his remark, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, warned the minimum wage committee against missing the timeline for its implementation.

    He explained that workers are creators of wealth and should be treated as such as well as celebrated. He vowed that the NLC will continue to fight until the new wage is implemented.

    “The benefits of new minimum wage cannot be over-emphasised. An increase in the minimum wage will pull many workers out of poverty,” he said.

    He also lamented the high rate of unemployment and poverty in the country, adding that Nigera’s economic structure does not provide the enabling space for mass industrialisation imbued with the capacity for sustainable jobs.

    Wabba further urged the government to track and diligently prosecute all corrupt persons in and outside the government. He warned against unlawful and illegal withholding of contributory pension deductions from workers’ salaries and not remitting to their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    Wabba condemned the sack of hundreds of teachers in Kaduna State and the fact that “they were denied their rights to protest.”

     

  • Stop complaining; pray for us instead – Osinbajo urges Christians

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, called on Churches for religious tolerance and prayers for those in government to overcome numerous challenges facing the nation.

    Osinbajo, who made the remark at the inauguration of the Deeper Life Bible Church new Headquarters Auditorium, Gbagada, Lagos, said that governance was a spiritual warfare.

    “It is the duty of the Church, as we are, that the Church prays for the government; that the Church upholds the hands of those in government, not by complaining but by supporting us with prayers.

    “Governance is a spiritual warfare, if anyone does not know that, I know. I ask the Church to pray for everyone of us in the position of authority in this land,” Mr Osinbajo pleaded.

    On the edifice, Osinbajo said: “This is one of the proudest moments for me as a Christian. This great edifice is for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

    Osinbajo, who commended the edifice for its modern amenities and technology, said its surroundings were investments in the community with a connecting bridge, street lights and greatly improved access roads.

    The vice president commended the Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, for his uncommon humility and commitment to the spread of the undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ.

    He urged the Church to accept that there would be resistance, saying “the devil is even more desperate and grievous as the end draws nearer”.

    According to him, part of the resistance includes resistance to the building of churches, saying there are cases of this, which President Muhammadu Buhari, has saddled him with.

    “The devil’s biggest agenda is stoke up a religious conflict in Nigeria, one that would make it impossible for anyone to preach the gospel while the security agencies continue to work relentlessly to wipe out the perpetrators of these evil acts.

    “And to bring a permanent end to all of the killings going on in the name of herdsmen, Boko Haram or any other name, we as a body of Christ must not lose focus.

    “We are called to bring men and women to salvation, even those who kill.

    “The enemy wants us to stand on our pulpits and preach hate but we will obey the Lord Jesus Christ, who said we must love our enemy and pray even for those who persecute us.

    “There is no person born or yet to be born that can stop the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he added.

    He decried killings of clerics and bombings of Mosques and Churches, saying it was the highest level of wickedness.

    According to him, the right to freedom of worship is also a right to build places of worship.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, who described the project as spectacular achievement, commended the Church for the multi-level car park and bridge constructed in the community.

    Ambode, who was represented by Lola Akande, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said the edifice had impacted positively on the aesthetics of the state as a mega city.

    “Let me reassure everyone of our commitment to ensure harmonious relationship among all residents in the state.

    We will continue to uphold and respect the rights of every citizen to freedom of worship and ensure that other people’s rights are not infringed upon,” Mr Ambode said.

    Mike Okonkwo, the presiding bishop of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) said that ultra-modern facility was a prophecy being fulfilled, that “Nigeria would be great again”.

    Okonkwo prayed for the nation to overcome the challenges facing it, saying unless God helped the country, there was nothing anyone could do.

    “We shall see the Nigeria of our dream, our children will no longer die in the desert. Nigeria shall be great again,” the cleric said.

    He urged Christians to continue to pray for the nation and politicians across all levels of governance to end the socio-economic and security challenges facing the nation.

    Earlier in his address, Kumuyi, who said that the vision commenced in 2005, thanked God for seeing the Church through the project.

    “We thank God for His uncommon faithfulness for seeing us through this great endeavour. When the project began in 2005, we knew that we were taking a leap of faith.

    “For us, we trusted the Lord that he would not only provide all we needed but direct and steer the project to a successful completion,” he said.

    Kumuyi, who said the edifice was due to many sacrifices of the Church members within and outside the country, prayed God to continue to reward and bless His people.

    The cleric, who also commended the Lagos State Government and residents of Gbagada for support, said that the Church was not unmindful of its social responsibilities to the community.

    The Church also unveiled its new logo at the event attended by several dignitaries across all walks of life and Church members.

    Renowned clerics and women leaders from Nigeria, Africa, Europe and the U.S. were in attendance to grace the occasion and commended the vision of Mr Kumuyi.

    The participants were thrilled by renditions from the Church’s children, youth, campus and adult choir with musical instrument.

    The ultra-modern auditorium, with about 30,000-seat capacity, has a big main bowl and four galleries with state-of-the-art gadgets.

  • Osinbajo, Governors, others attend launch of Kumuyi’s multi-billion Deeper Life headquarters [Photos]

    It was an atmosphere of fanfare on Tuesday as Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo led other dignitaries to the official launching of multi-billion Deeper Life Bible Church headquarters in Gbagada area of Lagos.

    Over 20,000 worshippers thronged the massive edifice meant to accommodate 30,000 worshippers at a single sitting to witness the ceremony.

    Leading Osinbajo into the massive edifice was the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi.At the event were the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, Dr. Lola Akande; wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Feyisetan Fayose; wife of the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; representatives of the Governors of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Osun State.

    There were also the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship, Red. Felix Omobude; founder, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, among others.

    In his opening address, Kumuyi said the construction of the building began in June 2005, saying that the building was meant to sit 30,000 at a sitting.

    He said the church took a leap of faith when it began the construction in 2005, adding that the inauguration was an indication that God had surpassed the expectations of the church.

    Kumuyi said a new and larger auditorium became necessary as a result of the need to accommodate more people, adding that it was givings from Deeper Life members that the edifice was completed.

    He added that the church was mindful of its corporate social responsibility to the community, which informed the construction of a bridge and car park in the area.

    He said the task of developing the society should not be left alone for the government, but that private bodies and churches should assist the government, adding that the churches must intensify the preaching of the gospel to bring about a change in the country.

    The man of God stated that when the preaching of the gospel was carried out effectively, it would help to eradicate social ills in the society.

    According to him, righteousness exalted a nation while sin is a reproach to any nation and her people.

    Also speaking, wife of the General Superintendent, Esther Kumuyi paid tribute to Kumuyi’s late wife, Biodun Kumuyi.

    She said many people looked with nostalgia to the old edifice, but noted that the glory of the latter house shall be greater.

  • Buhari will handover to Osinbajo – Chekwas Okorie

    The National Chairman of the United Progressives Party, Chekwas Okorie, has described reports that President Muhammadu Buhari will hand over power to an Igbo in 2023 as the ‘worst form of deceit.”

    There have been calls from leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the South East for Ndigbo to back Buhari in 2019 so he would hand over to them in 2023.

    However, Chekwas has said the narrative will amount to nothing as the ruling party nor Buhari has not made such promises.

    He said that Buhari would handover to Osinbajo to compensate him for his loyalty instead of the South East.

    “It’s a very unintelligent proposal by mostly Igbo politicians in APC because it’s not an APC agenda. Buhari or his close aides never alluded to anything like that; you always hear of it from Igbo people who do not know what they want from APC,” he told Sun.

    “They believe that the only way they can get Igbo votes is to make this kind of promise that is not based on logic or any political thinking. It is the worst form of deceit and it’s only the unwary, especially those on the lowest rung of intelligence quotient, that will buy into that kind of story.

    “I say this very clearly because President Buhari has a Vice and they have been working very closely together from the observation of many Nigerians. This is a man that held forth when the president was away for over 100 days on sick leave.

    “And if for any unfortunate reason Buhari comes back in 2019 (I put it that way because I’m one of those that don’t think he should come back) and decides to run with this same very loyal Vice President, what makes anybody think that after eight years in office, he will not reward him and his political zone, but them and go for the South-East?

    “What is the attraction from the South East region that will make Buhari to go in that direction? And what has Buhari ever said or done that will give the people of the South East the impression that he loves them that much? As a matter of fact, he has used every opportunity to tell them that he doesn’t like them.

    “Even when Igbo leaders went to see him, he reminded them that he had only 198,000 votes from the South-east in 2015. He hasn’t forgotten the support that the South-east gave to former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

  • Photos: Osinbajo attends emergency ECOWAS meeting in Togo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday traveled to Lome, Togo where he is representing Nigeria at an emergency meeting of leaders of the Economic Community of West African States.

    According to a statement on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President is expected back in the country later in the day.

    The statement read, “Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is representing Nigeria today at an emergency meeting of leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, holding in Lome, the capital city of Togo.

    “The meeting is to take stock on developments in Guinea-Bissau. ECOWAS leaders will receive a report on the situation, deliberate on the presentation and issue a communique at the end of the meeting.

    “Prof. Osinbajo, who is accompanied to the meeting by Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, is expected back in Abuja later today.”

  • Reps summon Osinbajo, Magu, Oyo-Ita over controversial suspension of NEMA officials

    The House of Representatives has summoned Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to appear before its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management to answer questions on the controversial suspension of six senior officers of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The House ordered that the suspended officers should be recalled while EFCC investigate the case against them.

    Also to appear alongside the Vice President is Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, the Head of Service Federal Civil Service of the Federation (HoFCS) Winifred Oyo-Ita and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris.

    The vice president was, however, asked to send a representative, if his schedule would not allow him.

    The summon was moved as a motion by Umar Bago (APC, Niger) and was carried by the committee members.

    The suspended officers are the Director of Finance and Accounts, Akinbola Gbolahan; Acting Director, Special Duties Mr. Umesi Emenike and Director, Risk Reduction Alhassan Nuhu.

    Others are the pilot in charge of Air Ambulance and Aviation Unit, Mr. Mamman Ibrahim; Chief Maintenance Officer Mr. Deji and Director of Welfare Mr. Kanar Mohammed.

    At the day three of the investigative hearing on the activities of the agency yesterday , the Ali Isa-led committee said the process that led to the suspension has to be explained by the vice president being the chairman of NEMA Governing board.

    NEMA DG Abubakar Maihaja had told the committee that the decision to suspend the six officers was taken by the council after it was inaugurated by the VP.

    When asked if the suspension was verbal or formal and if procedure as prescribed by public service rules was followed, Maihaja responded that suspension was not verbal.

    He said: “The report of the EFCC that led to the decision to suspend the officers was not released to the members though they were allowed to scrutinise it.

    “At the meeting, members were not allowed to take the letter out but allowed to go through it because the EFCC investigation is still ongoing.

    “The reality is that the document is confidential and the chairman made us aware that if giving out, the information therein would be exposed.

    “The instruction for the suspension wasn’t verbal by the VP but a meeting of governing council gave the approval. It was a resolution of the governing council.

    “If the VP had wanted to give instruction verbally, he would have done that before the inauguration of the council…

    “The council took the decision and taking instruction from the council, I signed the letters but the EFCC investigation is still ongoing”.

    On the N5 billion Northeast intervention fund, the DG said no money of such amount was received by NEMA, except N829 million for logistics and security.

    He, however, confirmed that food items worth the said amount was received and N829 million was used for the movement of the materials to the region.

    “I received items not money worth N5,036 billion and we were instructed to pick them from the stores. Some companies have not, however, delivered theirs like Golden Agric Input Ltd.

    “Food items were reviewed from Dangote, Bua Flour Mills and others and we have distributed and still distributing. Fifty per cent was moved to Maiduguri, 20 per cent to Yobe and 10 to Bauchi Gombe and Taraba.

    The DG was also questioned on the eligibility of some companies engaged for the supply of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice valued at N3 billion.

    “We engaged the companies used under emergency as proscribed under Emergency Act,” he said.

    On the qualification of officers that signed contract award documents, he said, “To the best of my conviction and according to the records, we had no procurement officer as at that time but planning officers, who were not qualified to carry out such assignment.”

    Several organisations relevant to the investigation were also asked to appear before the committee to give information that would aid the exercise.