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Revealed : 11,000 Youths shortlisted for NPower in Oyo.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Atinuke Osunkoya who doubles as the vocal person of the the N-Power job creation and empowerment, an initiative of the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria has unearthed that about 11,000 candidates were shortlisted out of the over 34,700 candidates that applied for the scheme in the state.
Revealing this on Thursday in her office in Ibadan, the state capital, she said with the figure – 34,700, Oyo State has the fifth largest applicants.
Osunkoya who promised to keep the public abreast on the actual number of those who are currently receiving the monthly stipends and those who are yet to be receiving, disclosed that about 8,000 candidates were shortlisted for the N-Teach.
While 900 candidates were picked for N-Health, 1,600 for N-Agro and 620 candidates were shortlisted for N-Community Education before verification.
The Commissioner explained that about four key areas have been identified as the major problems delaying the collection of the stipends.
” 34,700 actually applied for the job, out of which 11,000 were shortlisted. 8,000 candidates were shortlisted for the N-Teach, 900 for N-Health, 1,600 for N-Agro while 620 candidates were shortlisted for N-Community Education, those are those who were shortlisted before verification.
“In terms of successful applicants beyond verification, I don’t have the data here, I will get back to you”.
“Those who have problems, I will break them down in four ways. There are some who did not scale thorough the verification exercise, second reason is that there are those who have issues with their bank accounts, there are some who have issues with their names in cases like that, they have mismatch names especially the female, there are some who omitted their bank details in their application”, she stressed.
Osunkoya added that a desk officer who will be a civil servant will be appointed in each of the local government areas stating that a liaison officer who will be a beneficiary will also be engaged in each of the 33 local government areas to ease the work and decentralise the work of the scheme.
“As from Monday, the ministry has asked the local government to nominate a desk officer in order to decentralise our work”.
“Also, a liaison officer/person who will be among the beneficiaries, he will be one of those receiving the stipends and have been clear without any problem. Those are the one that will serve as go between when we have a meeting, they will be the one to pass information across to others. So if we are going to have a round table meeting, they are the ones we will call.
“We have a database of those who have problems, we have pasted the list, just as I said, I will get back to you on the figure
“Those who have peculiar problems have been asked to come to the ministry, the state will compile the list and send to Abuja”.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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