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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO SUE 16 STATE GOVERNORS OVER REFUSAL TO DISTRIBUTE EMPOWERMENT EQUIPMENTS.

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Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has threatened to take legal action against states that have refused to distribute empowerment sewing machines donated by the Federal Government to women nationwide.

She added that her ministry would retrieve such machines from the states since they were yet to put them to use.

The minister made the threat on Tuesday in Abuja, while addressing Commissioners for Women Affairs in the 36 states at the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop.

The workshop aimed to enhance leadership and management competencies to enable effective team leadership and strategic decision-making.

The workshop was organised by the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) in collaboration with UN Women and the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said that the machines were distributed by the Federal Government to promote entrepreneurship and socio-economic development of women in the country.

At a media conference in April, Kennedy-Ohanenye listed some of the equipment distributed, including industrial sewing machines and accessories, sets of rice milling machines, garri processing machines, and fish grilling equipment and their accessories.

Other items were industrial button hole holding machines, heavy industrial irons, tapping machines, Steam Pressing machines, sewing machines for stretches and stitches, Cloth cutting machines, fish smoking machines as well as fish rearing buckets.

“It is unfortunate that, to date, I have not received videos of these machines being used, which is the main reason they were given to Nigerians.

“We don’t want to maintain them and we don’t want them to work.

“I want to officially announce today that the following states have received empowerment sewing machines: Anambra, Kano, Rivers, Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue, Jigawa, and the FCT.

She warned that if the machines are not operational within a month, by September 13, she would take legal action against the states.

“I will retrieve the machines and take them to people who need them.

“It is unacceptable to leave equipment idle while people suffer. This has been holding women back, and we won’t set a bad example,” she said.

The minister noted that commissioners for women affairs in the listed states have yet to identify operational co-operative societies to receive the machines.

However, she commended Benue for promptly distributing the machines, citing video evidence of people using them within 48 hours of receipt.

Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasised that procuring equipment to empower women was a better use of the ministry’s funds than spending on ineffective programmes.

She urged them to immediately begin the use of the machines, assuring them that there were already markets for the items to be produced.

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Tinubu distributes palliatives to SUG presidents nationwide

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President Bola Tinubu has extended palliative support to Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The distribution of rice, facilitated by the Special Adviser on Students Engagement, Asefon Sunday, took place in Abuja.

During the event, Asefon explained that the initiative was part of the President’s ongoing efforts to support students and their communities. He recalled a similar gesture in December 2024, when student leaders received palliative support during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Today, SUG Presidents across the Federation will receive rice from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a leader who values students not just as tomorrow’s leaders but as leaders of today,” Asefon said.

He noted that the rice, initially meant for distribution in December 2024, arrived late in Abuja on December 28. To ensure proper distribution, representatives were invited to Abuja to personally receive the items. Two SUG Presidents were selected from each zone to oversee and manage the distribution process.

“This is unprecedented. For the first time in this country, a sitting President is directly reaching out to student leaders during the festive season,” Asefon remarked.

Looking ahead, Asefon assured students of more benefits under the Presidential initiative in 2024. “This is a time for Nigerian youth and students to reflect, express their views, and engage actively with the government. The impact of this administration is now being felt by students nationwide,” he added.

Fahad Abdullahi, the SUG President of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, expressed gratitude on behalf of the student leaders. “We were informed that all SUG Presidents across the nation would receive rice, a kind gesture from the President. We sincerely appreciate this initiative and commend him for his focus on students, from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to this Rice Initiative,” Abdullahi said.

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Tinubu appoints DSS deputy DG

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President Bola Ahmed Tinibu has approved the appointment of Folashade Arinola Adekaiyaoja fsi+, fdc, as Deputy Director General for the Service.

The approval, the first by any president, has drawn commendation from a large section of serving and retired DSS officers who see the move as aimed at restoring professionalism to the Service.

The presidential approval, it was gathered, seeks to revise the agency’s structure for better efficiency, in line with the original onanogram of the service.

Checks revealed that the DSS is structured to comprise three Deputy Directors General in its hierarchy.

The appointment and ratification by the President, according to elated operatives of the agency, was based on the recommendation of the DG through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

One of the sources told Vanguard that the appointment is in line with its extant regulations and unprecedented in the history of the Secret service.

The appointment of Adekaiyaoja, a native of Kogi State, it was gathered, is being celebrated by a cross section of officers and operatives who see her as eminently qualified for the position.

It was further gathered that President Tinubu had, in line with his promise to improve on the security of life and property of Nigerians, tasked the heads of security agencies to come up with proposals on how to improve on their service delivery.

“It was on this note,” offered a security source, “that the President approved the DG’s recommendation, which many serving and retired officers are confident would boost career progression in the Service.”

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Wike signs 5,481 C-of-O in one year, FCT land allottees now get title documents in two weeks

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As at December 31, 2024, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has signed a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has said.

This is 2,919 less than the total number of C-of-O printed and signed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from 2010 to 2023 (13 years).

In a statement on Tuesday, Olayinka said; “the moment necessary payments are made, land allottees can now get their C-of-O within two weeks.”

He said “one of the reasons land allottees do not find it compelling to pay for their C-of-O is because when they pay, they wait for years. But in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, that has changed now.

“Even uploading of necessary information to show when a C-of-O is collected as well as details on the collector that used to take months, is now done within 72 hours.”

Giving details of C-of-O produced and signed in the FCT in the last 15 years, the Minister’s Spokesperson said; “From May 2010 to May 2015, total of 5,655 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed.

“From May 2015 to May 2019, a total of 1,174 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed, while 1,571 were done between May 2019 and May 2023.

“Meanwhile, from May 2023 that President Tinubu assumed office till December 31, 2024, a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed by the FCT Minister.

“Also, in the next few weeks, land allottees whose C-of-O are ready for collection will begin to receive auto-generated SMS because it has been discovered that most of them don’t even know that their title documents are ready.”

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