Politics
‘Consider the Girls’ Future,’ Women Affairs Minister Tells Niger Assembly Speaker
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has taken some measures to stop the plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, to marry off 100 orphaned girls in the state.
The girls were believed to be orphans from insurgency, banditry, Boko haram activities and kidnappings plaguing the North geopolitical zone, including Niger State, the home state of former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
But addressing newsmen on Monday, the Women Affairs Minister said that she had reported the case to the police by petitioning the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and sought a court injunction to stop the plan pending the completion of investigations.
Mr Sarkindaji announced his plan to marry off the orphaned girls, who lost their parents due to banditry attacks in Mariga Local Government Area.
The official, who slated the mass wedding to take place on 24 May, said the plan was part of his constituency projects.
He said the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished,” pledging to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms and have procured materials for the mass marriage.
However, the women affairs minister, Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing journalists in Abuja, described the plans as “unacceptable” emphasising that a full-scale investigation has commenced on the issue.
“I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House of Assembly in Niger State to know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government. Totally unacceptable!
“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the outset, that is, no more business as usual.
“These children must be considered. Their future must be considered. The future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.
“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG (Inspector General) of Police.
”And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th (May), until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them,” she said.
The minister also emphasised the need to ensure girl-child education.
“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.
“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.
“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make-up her mind who and when to get married.
”If for any reason the Speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” she said.
The minister further emphasised within the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm, violence or anything that will infringe on their rights.
Credit: NAN
Fawaz Adebisi
Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State has given consent to the readjustment of workdays for civil servants in the state.
This was made known on Tuesday through a circular from the Office of the Head of Service, Samuel Aina Ayanleye and issued in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson of the Osun State Governor.
As gathered, this is in response to the high transportation costs in Nigeria.
Adeleke made this move few weeks after its neighboring state, Ogun state reduced its civil servants workdays to 3 per week.
However, in addition, the circular stated that Ademola also approved an extension of payment of palliatives for public servants for the next two months.
Also, it stated that the action was in pursuance of Governor Adeleke’s commitment to the well-being of workers, and a response to the present economic situation in the Country.
“By this Circular, therefore, and until another directive is given, the working day schedules for Public Servants in the state have been approved as follows:
“Public Servants on GL.01 to GL.10 – Three days a week. Public Servants on GL12 to GL.17 – Four days a week.”
The Circular further noted that the arrangements exclude those on essential duties such as medical personnel, security officers, political office holders and Accounting Officers.
“It is also important to note that arrangements as to which days each public servant in the above categories will be at work shall be arranged by the Accounting Officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
“The Governor has also graciously approved the continuation of payment of the agreed palliatives to public servants in the state for the next two months pending the commencement of the new minimum wage.
“All Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of governments, including local governments, were further directed to comply.”
Fawaz Adebisi
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has assured Nigerians that normalcy will return to the land, preparing to go into his seven days seclusion.
The monarch, in a statement through his spokesperson, Moses Olafare on Monday said the rite is the most sacred moment for him on the throne which he utilises to interact with his ancestors and pray for the people, the Oduduwa race worldwide, as well as mankind in general.
According to the statement, Ogunwusi stressed that his major request during the rite would be the betterment of the people in the country.
He said,”this time around, I want To pray and seek for the face of our Creator to intervene on the current economic situation.
“Things are very tough and people are feeling the hardship, I want to pray for all and sundry and specially urge the youths to exercise patience so that we will not used our hands to destroy our country.
“I know that people are passing through difficult periods in which they are not finding life easy and truly this is a challenging period.
“But I know that after this festival, normalcy will return to the country, as the problems we’re facing will soon come to an end,” Ooni said.
Also, he urged the government to be diligent in serving the populace by making bountiful dividends of democracy for the citizenry.
Fawaz Adebisi
The Abia State Government has set a date to start implementing the new minimum wage.
Okey Kanu, the state Commissioner for Information revealed on Monday that the minimum wage implantation will kick off by October.
Kanu said this while briefing the press on the outcome of the week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by the state governor, Alex Otti.
In his words, “will cut across all categories of workers.”
Speaking of other outcomes of the meeting, he stressed that the state government is also set to commence the construction of 17 court halls across the 17 local government areas of the state.
He further disclosed that the state Ministry of Health will next week organise a free medical outreach at Ugwunnagbo.
In the same vein, he added that there would be free medical consultations, maternal and child healthcare services and free diagnostic tests.
