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Ondo 2020: Again, police officers lament non-payment of allowances

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Some police officers that participated in the gubernatorial election that was held in Ondo state on October 10, 2020 have called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the governors in the Southwest and members of  the National Assembly to prevail on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Muhammed Adamu and other top police authority to pay their allowances for the said election without further delay.

The affected officers are those that were deployed as supplementary officers from the Southwest states including Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun and Lagos, to assist those that had earlier been deployed and categorized as Batch ‘A’ for the said election.

This will be the second time within two months after the Ondo governorship election was held that the affected officers would be lamenting over non-payment of their allowances.

The officers , who confided in Mega Icon Magazine, were surprised that despite repeated demands and appeal made to the police headquarters, no signal whatsoever on when the allowances would be paid and the reason for the delay in the payment.

Their spokesperson who has just been promoted to the rank of Superitendent of Police and spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the affected officers were subjected to a lot of hardship before, during and after the said election as a result of non payment of their allowances.

According to him, “all of us that were affected were deployed to Ondo as supplementary officers to those that were in Batch ‘A’ recruited for that election. Before we went for this special assignment, we were asked to submit our individual account number with code number which we did with a promise to credit our account.

“When we got to Ondo, we spent our personal money to eat, securing hotel accommodation and all sort of things, while those of us who could not afford hotel accommodation had to sleep outside. Some of our colleagues had an accident on the road and died. Some had health challenges and could not afford medical bills. Yet, our boss at the headquarters are not ready to listen to our plight. Is this not part of the corruption we are talking about in this country”, the officer queried.

On the claim by the police authority that those that have not been paid their allowances had discrepancies in their account details, the spokesperson described the claim as blatant lie, stressing that they were only saying that as an excuse not to pay their allowances when they know that they could not speak because they don’t have union that would fight for them.

Meanwhile, efforts made by our reporter to reach the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Frank Mba for comments were unsuccessful as messages to his phone via WhatsApp were not responded to.

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NAF Pharmacist Shines at 97th PSN Conference, Bags Three Prestigious Awards

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Air Commodore David Olumuyiwa Babalola, a consultant clinical pharmacist in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has achieved an extraordinary milestone in Nigerian pharmacy practice, earning three prestigious honors at the 97th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

Held from November 4 to 9, 2024, the conference celebrated Babalola’s exceptional contributions with the Biogenerics Integrity Award, the Pfizer Excellence Award, and the Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN).

Babalola was recognized as the best overall public-sector hospital pharmacist in Nigeria, clinching the Biogenerics Integrity Award. This esteemed honor, accompanied by a ₦1,000,000 cash prize, celebrates excellence in patient care, career achievements, innovations, training, research, professional service, philanthropy, and leadership in public hospitals.

Adding to his accolades, he was one of four pharmacists nationwide to receive the Pfizer Excellence Award. This award highlights outstanding contributions to hospital and community pharmacy and includes a ₦250,000 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a certificate.

Representatives of Pfizer Nigeria presented the award during the conference’s grand closing banquet at Flairmore Event Centre, Uyo.

This achievement makes history as Babalola becomes the first pharmacist in the Nigerian Armed Forces to win a PSN-sponsored corporate award since its inception nearly two decades ago.

In his acceptance speech, Babalola expressed gratitude to Biogenerics Nigeria Ltd and Pfizer Nigeria for their sponsorship, which he said inspires excellence in hospital pharmacy practice.

He also acknowledged the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal HB Abubakar, for fostering an enabling environment for pharmacists within the NAF and for approving the implementation of the Pharmacists Consultant Cadre in the force.

Babalola’s accolades were further crowned by his conferment with the Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), the highest honor awarded to pharmacists in the country. This recognition, reserved for individuals who have rendered exemplary and meritorious service, solidifies Babalola’s status as a trailblazer in the field.

As the first pharmacist in the Nigerian Air Force to attain the rank of air commodore, Babalola’s career is marked by groundbreaking achievements.

His latest recognitions underscore his relentless commitment to advancing pharmacy practice in Nigeria and inspiring a new generation of pharmacists.

The investiture ceremony for his FPSN honor is slated for early 2025, promising yet another celebration of his outstanding contributions to the pharmacy profession and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

 

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NGO Launches Ibadan Food Bank Project to Combat Hunger Among Vulnerable Nigerians

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The Founder and Executive Director of the Temmy Helping Hands and Youth Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. (Pastor) Elizabeth Bakare, on Saturday unveiled the Ibadan Food Bank Project during the foundation’s 2024 annual convention in Ibadan.

The initiative tagged “Let Nobody Go to Bed Hungry,” aims at tackling food insecurity and hunger among Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations”.

Mega Icon Magazine recalled that a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerian households, revealing that two-third of the population struggle to afford healthy and nutritious meals.

The survey titled “Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024)”, noted the worsening multidimensional poverty and the erosion of purchasing power due to the persistent rise in the cost of goods and services.

According to the report, approximately 63.8% of households have been forced to eat only a few kinds of food due to financial constraints. About 62.4% of respondents admitted worrying about food insufficiency, while 60.5% ate less than they thought they should.

“The situation has deteriorated significantly since the last survey, as the proportion of households expressing food insecurity concerns rose from 36.9% in the previous wave to 62.4% in the current one”, the report reads further.

Speaking at the unveiling in Ibadan, during the 2024 annual convention of the foundation, Mrs. Bakare described the alarming rise in hunger caused by the nation’s economic challenges, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the increasing exchange rate, which have led to soaring food prices.

She noted that these conditions have placed immense strain on widows, single parents, orphans, and other underprivileged groups, making it imperative to act swiftly.

The Ibadan Food Bank is set to provide food support to 2,500 individuals monthly, with plans to expand its reach to 30,000 beneficiaries annually by 2029 and 105,000 per annum by 2034.

The initiative incorporates several interventions, such as the free distribution of essential food items, a food subsidy programme offering discounted staples, and a mobile kitchen service providing one free meal daily.

Continuing, it includes outreach to prisons, orphanages, IDP camps, and leprosy centers, as well as educational meal subsidies for schools and centers for people with disabilities. The project also encourages self-reliance through a home farming initiative that offers seeds, tools, and training, and through food processing training to empower beneficiaries with sustainable livelihood skills.

Since its establishment in December 2023, Temmy Helping Hands has already made significant strides in alleviating hunger and poverty. Past achievements include food distributions during World Food Day celebrations and financial support for widows.

Bakare also announced an upcoming initiative, “Make This December One to Remember,” which will provide assistance to 500 vulnerable individuals during the festive season.

She called for partnerships to expand the scope and reach of the Ibadan Food Bank, urging individuals, organizations, and corporations to support the initiative through food donations, financial contributions, and volunteering.

Highlighting various ways to collaborate, she appealed for sponsorship of families or meals, establishment of endowment funds, employee volunteer programs, and media campaigns to raise awareness.

According to Bakare, such contributions would not only transform lives but also demonstrate a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.

She thanked the awardees for their dedication to humanitarian service, urging everyone to join in the fight against hunger.

“Together, we can ensure that no one in Ibadan goes to bed hungry. Every act of kindness matters,” the Founder added.

The keynote address at the occasion was delivered by Dr. Ibraheem Okunlola Akinwale, an Assistant Director at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who spoke on strategies for coping with the economic hardship in the country.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Princess Oyedele Bolatito, from Oyo State WAZOBIA Widows commanded Temmy Helping Hands and Youth Empowerment Foundation for the laudable initiative, urging others to emulate such kind gesture.

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Two-Thirds of Nigerians Can’t Afford Healthy Meals — NBS

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A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerian households, revealing that two-thirds of the population struggle to afford healthy and nutritious meals. The survey, titled Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024), underscores the worsening multidimensional poverty and the erosion of purchasing power due to the persistent rise in the cost of goods and services.

The report shows that approximately 63.8% of households have been forced to eat only a few kinds of food due to financial constraints. About 62.4% of respondents admitted worrying about food insufficiency, while 60.5% ate less than they thought they should. The situation has deteriorated significantly since the last survey, as the proportion of households expressing food insecurity concerns rose from 36.9% in the previous wave to 62.4% in the current one.

Power Outages and Access to Energy

The survey also sheds light on the nation’s energy crisis, revealing that Nigerian households experience an average of 6.7 power blackouts per week. While 82.2% of urban households have access to electricity, the figure drops to 40.4% in rural areas.

Cooking remains predominantly dependent on traditional methods, with 65% of households using three-stone stoves and 70.2% relying on firewood. However, the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is reportedly increasing.

Sanitation and Asset Ownership

In terms of sanitation, the report highlights that many households still lack basic toilet facilities, relying on bushes or streets for waste disposal. Access to clean drinking water is often through tube wells or boreholes, reflecting a lack of formal infrastructure in many areas.

On asset ownership, the survey indicates a decline since 2018/19. While two-thirds of households own mobile phones, only 21.3% have internet access. Housing ownership remains significant, with 70.4% of households owning their homes—80.1% in rural areas compared to 49.1% in urban centers.

The NBS report provides a stark reminder of the challenges many Nigerians face daily, from food insecurity and power outages to inadequate sanitation and declining asset ownership. It calls for urgent policy interventions to address these critical issues and improve the living standards of the population.

 

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