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Protest: Government Priority Should be to Eradicate Poverty

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Protest: Government Priority Should be to Eradicate Poverty

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has said the priority of government should be to take suffering far away from citizens, insisting that government policies should tend toward eradicating poverty.

The non governmental organisation (NGO) lamented that the rate of injustice and poverty in Nigeria is an eyesore, noting that the interplay of these factors has not only fractured the nation along ethnic diversity with dire consequences of civil unrest, leading to many of social upheavals the citizens are facing today.

In an effort to put this issue in perspectives, ActionAid Nigeria on Thursday launched its new 10-year Country Strategy Paper (CSP), titled “Citizens’ Action to End Poverty and Injustice 2024-2034.”

Speaking at the event, the Country Director of ActionAid, Andrew Mamedu highlighted the role government needs to play in making sure that citizens enjoy equal right.

He said, “The CSP builds on our many years of work in Nigeria. It is founded on the lessons learnt in implementing previous CSPs and programming in Nigeria. Each of these strategies reflected the context with an appropriate response within the period it operated. Our first two strategies focused on the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty and our analysis of the roles of stakeholders, including citizens and Government in responding to poverty”.

He added: @Our third strategy, Take Action: End Poverty recognised the role of business in influencing and/or deepening poverty. Hence, we prioritised pushing for progressive taxation to support the government’s drive to generate resources to fund social sectors among other actions. In the last CSP, Social Justice to End Poverty, we took our first step in working more with allies and social movements to advance social justice and poverty eradication. We have learnt that poverty is multifaceted and cannot be compartmentalised and requires a more nuanced approach.

“In this CSP, we are deepening our engagement and focusing on responding to multidimensional poverty, seeing how poverty and injustice are weaponised against the poor and excluded.
As a learning organisation, we strongly believe that the current Nigerian context would require us to innovate through a social movement mindset in acting to address the multidimensional poverty that we face as a country.“

Founding Executive Director,
African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Abuja, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, in his keynote address said: “The country is facing huge political, economic and social challenges. Scholars have identified the challenges to include among other things poor leadership; bad followership; poor strategy for development; lack of capable and effective state and bureaucracy; lack of focus on sectors that will improve the condition of living of citizens such as education, health, agriculture and the building of infrastructure; corruption; undeveloped, irresponsible and parasitic private sector; weak civil society; emasculated labour and student movement and poor execution of policies and programmes.”

He noted that: “Inspite of these challenges, the ruling elite have continued with business-as-usual mode. The Federal Government in 2023 inaugurated the largest cabinet in Nigeria’s history. They used N21 billion to renovate the Vice-President’s house. The length of convoy, lifestyle and public posturing of the ruling elite does not reflect the reality of majority of Nigerians.
“Only a few days ago, there was a national protest against bad governance. Despite the best efforts of progressive forces in Nigeria, poverty and injustice remains a huge challenge. This is why there is the need to revisit the path to poverty eradication and social justice.”

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said in his speech that,”In our Constitution fundamental objectives and Directive Principles of state which contain the economic, political and social objective, stated in our Constitution are responsibility of government and that makes our ministry the agency that is responsible for advising how those fundamental objectives can be achieved and to mobilize other stakeholders and groups. Poverty, regrettably, is still a major factor.”

Protest: Government Priority Should be to Eradicate Poverty

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LAWMAKERS COMMEND NSCDC BOSS FOR LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMBATING ILLEGAL MINING, HARPS ON SUSTAINED ZEST TO CURTAIL ECONOMIC SABOTAGE

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LAWMAKERS COMMEND NSCDC BOSS FOR LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMBATING ILLEGAL MINING, HARPS ON SUSTAINED ZEST TO CURTAIL ECONOMIC SABOTAGE

By: Michael Mike

The House of Representative committee on Public Petitions has commended the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi for numerous achievements made by the NSCDC in ensuring a crime-free mining environment.

The lawmakers expressed their delight in the operational plan of the NSCDC Mining Marshals and the relentless onslaught against economic saboteurs within the mining sector.

“We are impressed with the Mining Marshals’effort to salvage the nation from the hands of thieves and infiltrators”.

While charging the Corps to keep up the good work, the House Committee further requested the Marshals to provide the activity schedule of operations within four weeks.

Representing the NSCDC Commandant General; the Mining Marshals Commander; ACC John Onoja Attah made the presentation and assured the committee of a thorough judicial process and reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to ensuring the every case is prosecuted diligently and justly at the closure of a thorough investigation.

ACC Attah hinted that the Corps under the Audi led administration had reinvigorated and repositioned the NSCDC to prosecute it’s statutory mandates with due diligence and loyalty.

He said there are no daunting challenges that could outweigh the deliberate commitment made by the Corps to ensure sanctity within the Mining industry.

LAWMAKERS COMMEND NSCDC BOSS FOR LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMBATING ILLEGAL MINING, HARPS ON SUSTAINED ZEST TO CURTAIL ECONOMIC SABOTAGE

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NIMC: Modify Your Data on Our Portal or Risk Identity Theft

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NIMC: Modify Your Data on Our Portal or Risk Identity Theft

By: Michael Mike

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned against modification of data on the National Identification Number (NIN) from source other than the official NIMC self-service portal, stating that doing this make someone open to identity threat.

A statement on Monday by the Commission’s Head, Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke read:
“The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) wishes to state that in order to ensure the security and integrity of your National Identification Number (NIN) data, modifications can only be done on the official NIMC self-service portal:
Selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng

“Do not attempt to modify your NIN data on any unauthorized websites,as this may compromise your personal information and put you at risk of identity theft.

“By using the official NIMC self-service portal, you can be rest assured that your data is secure and protected. You’ll also enjoy the convenience of updating your information from anywhere, at any time.
So,remember:for all your NIN modification needs,click on
Selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng.

For further information and inquiries, kindly visit the NIMC website at www.nimc.gov.ng
or send a mail to nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng or call the customer care line on 070022556462

“Your security and peace of mind are worth it!

NIMC: Modify Your Data on Our Portal or Risk Identity Theft

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IWD: ‘India has highest number of female pilots worldwide. Says Envoy

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IWD: ‘India has highest number of female pilots worldwide. Says Envoy

By: Michael Mike

The Acting India High Commissioner, Ms Vartika Rawat has said that India’s support for women’s empowerment in Nigeria has opened opportunities for women in the country, saying India now has the highest number of female pilots in the world.

She disclosed this while delivering her welcome speech at an event to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) which took place at the Indian High Commission in Abuja on Saturday.

She said: “India has the largest number of female pilots in the world. Of the total 11,775 pilots, 1,767 are female, accounting for approximately 15% of the workforce in this rigorous industry. This share exceeds the international average of 5 to 6 per cent”, the envoy said.

She also said women constitute around 36 per cent of India’s IT workforce.

Recalling the efforts made by women to defeat COVID-19 in 2020, Rawat said: “More than 6 million female frontline workers led the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

“Indian women scientists have shown their strength and determination in developing a COVID vaccine within the shortest possible time. Indian women scientists, again, have been instrumental for the success of India’s mission to the Mars and the moon.

“There are over 1.45 million or 46 per cent women elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions against mandatory representation of 33 per cent.”

She said Indian push for women empowerment focuses on enhancing women’s social, economic and political status, to ensure equality and dignity in society, adding that the government’s efforts included promoting education, healthcare and economic independence, alongside laws addressing gender-based Violence, workplace discrimination and inequality.

IWD: ‘India has highest number of female pilots worldwide. Says Envoy

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