National News
Interior Minister orders clearance of over 200,000 passport backlogs within two weeks
Interior Minister orders clearance of over 200,000 passport backlogs within two weeks
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has given a marching order to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), demanding the swift clearance of over 200,000 pending international passport applications in two weeks.
The Minister gave the order during a meeting with top government officials, the Acting Comptroller General, Caroline Adepoju, and the Managing Director of Iris Smart Technologies, a third-party company in charge of the production of passport booklets.
The order was in furtherance to his promise to remove bottlenecks in the acquisition of passports and other immigration documents.
There has been age-long delays in the processing and enrolment of passports in Nigeria, which brought frustration for citizens, causing significant delays in obtaining crucial travel documents.
The Minister had said that having to deal with about 200,000 backlogs calls for national emergency.
READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/nigerias-vp-kashim-shettima-in-100-days/
At the meeting, the minister was quoted to have said: “As far as I am concerned, the issue of passport is a national emergency. I keep getting emails daily from Nigerians complaining. We cannot continue like that.
“It has become an embarrassment to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I represent him here as your minister. That embarrassment is mine now. I am not changing my words. I need the backlog cleared in two weeks.”
During the meeting, the Acting Comptroller General, Caroline Adepoju, and Managing Director, Iris Smart Technologies, Yinka Fisher, assured the Minister that all necessary resources and measures would be deployed to ensure the expedited processing of the pending passport applications.
Adepoju disclosed that though the number of enrolment as of Thursday morning spills into 200,000 across the country, the agency has been able to secure enough booklets to clear the backlog.
The Minister had told both the IRIS team and officers of the NIS that he receives updates on passport enrolments on a daily basis.
He said: “I get daily report on enrolment from NIS on my phone. This is my best way to be in the know of the situation. Nigerians deserve the best. It is their right to own a passport if they can afford it.
“We will also ensure that our debts are cleared by November. My position remains that the delay in the process of obtaining the passport must end.”
The Minister also held a strategic meeting with the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Abdulganiyu Jaji; the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa; the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi.
In the meeting, the Minister issued a directive for the creation of a practical and executable roadmap that entails timelines, approach, deliverables, and methodology.
The directive, according to the Minister, must be fulfilled within a four-week timeframe.
Interior Minister orders clearance of over 200,000 passport backlogs within two weeks
National News
Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals
Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals
By: Michael Mike
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday called for collaborate efforts from all stakeholders and insist that there is need to accelerate and mobilize the necessary resources to achieve the nation’s climate goals.
The President stated this at a Climate Security Summit in Abuja organized by the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners.
Represented by the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, the president noted that climate poses threats to the world including Nigeria.
He listed some of the efforts towards addressing climate change to include Nigeria’s Paris Agreement pledge which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030.
He lamented that: “The climate crisis is no longer looming threat but a present and undeniable danger inflicting devastation upon our nation.”
The President added that “it’s merciless actio. Is evidence nationwide from the relentless surge of the sea level threatening our coastal communities to creeping drought that ignores farmers/herders crisis that has brought insecurity upon Nigeria.
“The frequent and extreme weather effect such as flood and heatwave and harsh weather effect that have ravaged our economy and displaced vulnerable populace and destroyed infrastructure.”
He said: “Climate crisis are existential threat to our nation, continent and indeed the entire world. It is a threat that increase problems in our development plan,” stating that “with urgency, we must act now to address this very crisis.”
He however noted that: “Recognizing this urgent challenge, Nigeria has demonstrated its commitments to climate action through various initiatives most notably our promise through Paris Agreement.”
Also speaking the Director General, National Council on Climate Change, and the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe noted that the law provides for the establishment of climate change fund to enable Nigeria to strengthen her resilient and safeguard the people from the impact of climate change, but Nigeria is yet to operationalize the fund.
She noted that one of the reasons for the meeting was to bring together stakeholders to plan useful strategies that would ensure Nigeria is able to benefit from the fund.
She equally noted that the meeting would device Nigeria’s strategies at the upcoming COP 29, insisting that Nigeria should expect positive outcomes from the global meeting.
Maduekwe said already in place a trained negotiators which would be on attendance at the COP 29 for Nigeria so that the nation can come out from the meeting with goodies.
Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals
National News
Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education
Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education
By: Our Reporter
The first daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Dr. Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo has been appointed Ambassador of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE).
This announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss Elbulaturee during a courtesy visit to the Iyaloja-General’s palace in Lagos.
Dr. Idris cited Chief Tinubu Ojo’s passion for supporting disadvantaged communities, particularly almajiri and out-of-school children, as the reason for her appointment.
He praised her efforts in promoting trade and commerce, ensuring market women’s access to resources and opportunities.
Chief Tinubu-Ojo expressed excitement and gratitude for the honour, pledging to alleviate the plight of these vulnerable Nigerians.
She emphasized her father’s commitment to education as a lasting legacy for Nigerian children, evident in his own children’s lives.
She commended the Executive Secretary for his service to Nigeria and prayed for him to succeed in the task ahead.
As Ambassador, Chief Tinubu Ojo is expected leverage her position to expand services to almajiri and out-of-school children, aligning with the commission’s goals.
Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education
National News
Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive
Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive
By: Our Reporter
The Kebbi State Governor, His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has signed into law a new minimum wage of N75,000.
The governor also directed the State Accountant General, Ministry of Finance and Ministry for Local Government to ensure implementation of the new wage within 72 hours.
The new minimum wage was signed into law before the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and his executive members who were in Kebbi State for a meeting.
Speaking shortly after signing the wage at Government House, Birnin Kebbi, Gov. Idris said all categories of workers would benefit from the new minimum wage and “it must start from this month of October.”
The governor recalled that right from the onset, he promised not to disappoint labour, saying that the labour have now started harvesting what they have planted.
“I want to use this medium to thank the NLC president and the labour for supporting me to win my election.
“The national leadership was here in Kebbi State in support of my election and by their support, I won my election and at the same time, I won my cases in different court of law.
“I promised you that I will never fail you and I promised that I will not fail Kebbi workers also. I reiterate my commitment and sincerity to using the Kebbi resources judiciously, with fear of God and I will not fail you, and will not fail Kebbi workers.
“In my administration I don’t owe salaries, I don’t owe pension, I don’t owe gratuity, I don’t owe death benefit and I pay leave grant up to 2023,” he confirmed.
The governor said he was supposed to be the first governor in Nigeria to implement minimum wage but there was no template to lay hand on.
He explained that the new wage was the outcome of a joint committee comprising representatives of both labour and the state, who arrived at three different wages of N70,000, N72,00.
Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive
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