Connect with us

News

Oyo governor, Makinde calls for restructuring, decentralised economy

Published

on

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has again made a strong case for the restructuring of the country and the decentralisation of its economy, stating that this will afford all states the opportunity to develop their resources at their own pace.

Makinde stated this while receiving the University of Lagos Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association, which paid a courtesy visit to his office at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor stressed that though restructuring may not be a total solution, it would address the major challenges facing the country.

“At the end of every month, we are all going to Abuja cap in hand and that has stunted our growth everywhere you turn to. Even, the issue of insecurity we are faced with and economic challenges.

“Yes, a restructured and decentralised country will not be fix-all (solution) but it will, at least, put us on that trajectory where we can start dealing with other issues at the local level,” he said.

The governor, who welcomed the UNILAG Engineering Alumni to Ibadan, further said “this is indeed a challenging period for us as a country across various sectors, education inclusive, and tertiary education cannot be left to the government alone. And it is also tied to our request for a restructured country.

“I remember in the late 70s my eldest brother was leaving secondary school and going to the University. 1977/78, you apply to various universities, you do their exams and then if you are qualified they put you in. And certain areas thought they were disadvantaged and what did we see, then we have JAMB for the entire country and then we started having grammar like ‘educationally disadvantaged’ and quota system’, ‘catchment area’ and all sorts of things, and what did that do for us? Basically it arrested growth in that sector.”

He told the Alumni Association that its objectives were noble by asking for past students to come and contribute to the school in form of endowments, adding that “your reach will determine what you will get.”

He stated that with the NUC and TETFUND, everything has become centralised adding that that is why many are asking for a decentralised structure for the country, “so that certain people can develop at their own pace without all of us having to go to Abuja, even in terms of the FAAC.”

He added: “So, I will accept to co-chair the committee with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we will roll up our sleeves and ensure we raise funds for the faculty your target of N500m.

He also promised to activate the professorial chair he earlier endowed at UNILAG.

Governor Makinde added that his government has always remained receptive to the idea of collaborating with the academia and the industries to engender development in the state.

He equally hailed the alumni association’s offer to showcase his government’s developmental efforts in Oyo State on its website.

“Thank you so much for the offer of showcasing what we are doing through the website of the UNILAG Engineering Alumni. We also try to encourage collaboration between the government and the industry and academia. “If we are doing good, tell us also so that we can become a little bit proud of ourselves, and if you also have things you feel the state can do in terms of collaboration on research, do not hesitate to send your request to us,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the National President of the Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association, Engineer Dideolu Falobi, who lauded the developmental programmes of Governor Makinde, described him as a good ambassador of the faculty and the institution at large.

He said the purpose of the visit was to familiarise and intimate Governor Makinde on some of the contemporary challenges facing the faculty as identified by the leadership of the faculty, and how all stakeholders would sit together and proffer solutions to the challenges.

 

Comments

News

Trump Walks Free with ‘Unconditional Discharge’ in Hush Money Case

Published

on

By

 

A judge sentenced Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge Friday for covering up hush money payments to a porn star despite the US president-elect’s last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House.

 

 

The judge spared Trump prison or a fine even though the 34 counts of falsifying business records on which he was convicted in May 2024 carried potential jail time.

 

Instead New York judge Juan Merchan handed down the mildest criminal sanction available, an unconditional discharge — a relatively uncommon measure.

 

“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” said Merchan.

 

“The only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land is an unconditional discharge.”

 

Trump attended his sentencing virtually, with the judge, lawyers and media packed into the scruffy Manhattan courtroom that was the backdrop to the trial’s high drama, legal wrangling and vitriolic personal attacks by the divisive Republican.

 

“This has been a very terrible experience. I think it’s been a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system,” Trump said before the discharge was passed.

Attorney Todd Blanche (L) and US President-elect Donald Trump, seen on a television screen, appear virtually for sentencing after Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in his hush money criminal trial last year, at the Manhattan criminal court on January 10, 2025 in New York. (Photo by Jabin Botsford / POOL / AFP)

“It was done to damage my reputation, so I would lose the election.”

The former president appeared on screens in the courtroom with two large US flags behind him, wearing a red tie with white stripes and looking on impatiently as the brief proceeding unfolded.

 

Ahead of the sentencing, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said Trump had been convicted of a “premeditated and continuous deception.”

 

“The verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected,” he said.

 

The trial saw Trump forced to look on as a string of witnesses testified that he had fraudulently covered up illicit payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in an effort to stop her disclosing their tryst ahead of the 2016 presidential election, which he ultimately won.

 

Trump had sought a suspension of the criminal proceedings after a New York State appeals court dismissed his effort to have the hearing delayed.

 

But the Supreme Court ruled that the sentencing could proceed.

 

Prosecutors opposed the effort to stave off sentencing, 10 days before Trump is due to be sworn in for a second term, arguing it was wrong for the apex court to hear the case when the mogul still had avenues of appeal to pursue in New York.

– First presidential conviction –

An unconditional discharge is a measure without any sanctions or restriction that nonetheless upholds the jury’s guilty verdict — and Trump’s infamy as the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Attorney Todd Blanche (L) and US President-elect Donald Trump, seen on a television screen, appear virtually for sentencing after Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in his hush money criminal trial last year, at the Manhattan criminal court on January 10, 2025 in New York. (Photo by Jabin Botsford / POOL / AFP)

The 78-year-old Trump had potentially faced up to four years in prison.

“He’s sticking his middle finger at the judge, the jury, the system of justice, and laughing,” said Pace University law professor and former prosecutor Bennett Gershman ahead of the sentencing.

 

Outside the courthouse, Trump supporters held a giant banner emblazoned with their idol’s name that was buffeted by high winds. There was also a small vigil of anti-Trump demonstrators behind a hoarding reading “Trump is guilty.”

 

Trump’s counsel had argued sentencing should have been postponed while the Republican appealed his conviction, but New York state Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer rejected that on Tuesday.

 

Trump repeatedly called the prosecution a “witch hunt” which Steinglass said was “designed to have a chilling effect.”

 

“This defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system,” the career prosecutor said.

 

Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said he “very, very much disagree with much of what the (prosecution) just said.”

 

Trump was certified as the winner of the 2024 presidential election on Monday, four years after his supporters rioted at the US Capitol as he sought to overturn his 2020 defeat.

 

 

Continue Reading

News

FG Receives $52.88m Recovered Galactica Assets Linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke from U.S.

Published

on

By

The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially received $52.88 million in recovered Galactica assets linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States of America.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed this development during the formal signing ceremony of the asset recovery agreement between Nigeria and the U.S. government in Abuja on Friday.

In his address, Fagbemi revealed that $50 million of the recovered funds will be channeled through the World Bank to finance rural electrification projects across the country.

The remaining $2.88 million will be allocated to the International Institute of Justice to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system and bolster anti-corruption initiatives.

“This asset return represents a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in combating corruption and upholding the rule of law,” Fagbemi stated.

He further emphasised that the recovery aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to tackling corruption and promoting accountability in governance.

The Attorney-General commended the efforts of both nations in ensuring the successful recovery and transparent management of the funds, noting that it sets a precedent for future partnerships in asset recovery and anti-corruption efforts.

Also speaking at the event, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in the management of the recovered assets.

He urged Nigerian authorities to ensure that the funds are effectively utilised for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

Ambassador Mills reiterated the U.S. government’s continued support for Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive and called for the diligent monitoring of how the recovered funds are deployed to foster sustainable development.

Continue Reading

News

NYSC to Increase Corps Members’ Allowance to ₦77,000 Monthly

Published

on

By

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that corps members across the country will soon begin receiving ₦77,000 as their monthly allowance.

 

The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, according to a statement issued by the NYSC spokesperson, Caroline Embu.

 

General Ahmed emphasized that the welfare of corps members remains a top priority for his administration, noting that arrangements for the payment of the new allowance have been finalized.

 

The increase in corps members’ allowances is in line with the recent review of Nigeria’s minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024.

 

This development marks the second major adjustment in corps members’ stipends in recent years. In 2020, the NYSC increased the allowance from ₦19,800 to ₦33,000 following the implementation of the ₦30,000 minimum wage.

 

The latest increment reflects the government’s commitment to improving the living standards of Nigerian youths serving their country under the NYSC scheme.

 

President Tinubu’s signing of the new minimum wage bill in July 2024 came after months of negotiations between government authorities, labor unions, and private sector stakeholders. The adjustment aims to address inflationary pressures and improve the economic well-being of workers across the country.

 

The NYSC has assured corps members of its continued commitment to their welfare and development as they contribute to national unity and service.

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending