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NYSC extends service year of 20 corps members in Gombe, Abia

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NYSC extends service year of 20 corps members in Gombe, Abia

 

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC has said that 20 corps members of 2021 Batch “A”, Stream II will be repeating the service year in Abia and Gombe states respectively.

The nine persons in Abia, were extracted for different cases of abscondment from 870 corps members who are supposed to do their Passing Out Parade, POP, on Thursday

According to the Abia State NYSC State Coordinator, Jingi Denis, the step taken at the stream’s passing out parade is in accordance with NYSC norms and regulations.

He stated that one corps member will receive a State Honours Award “in appreciation of his remarkable achievement throughout his tenure in Abia state”, while five others will receive commendation certificates.

He told the departing corps members that their respect for the pledge they swore during their induction ceremony, as well as the historical milestones they achieved during their time in the state, will live on in the state’s records.

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Denis urged them not to fear the unknown labour market as the service has empowered them through skills acquisition while in the camp to become business owners.

In his address, the Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, and Commissioner for Youth Development, Charles Esonu enjoined the corps members not to regard their end of service year as the end of service to mankind, urging them also to “believe in Nigeria and cherish its corporate existence as a peaceful nation”.

Addressing the corps members, the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu urged them “do not engage in activities that will undermine the noble ideas the society has bestowed on you for participating in the NYSC scheme”, hence being good ambassadors of their immediate families and resource materials for national unity and integration.

Represented by the secretary to the State Government, SSG Barr Chris Ezem, the governor assured that his government will continue to assist the scheme “within available resources in the provision of basic amenities for its operation”.

He urged them not to “join evil forces and enemies of progress to undermine our nationhood”.

Victor Akpan Etim from Akwa Ibom was the recipient of the State Honours Award. He is a graduate of Civil Engineering from the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State.

In related development, Out of the 683 who completed their one-year service in Gombe, 11 National Youths Service Corps members from Batch “A,” Stream II, have had their service extended, while seven others have absconded.

Pantami, State Coordinator of NYSC in Gombe, Ada Imoni, told participants at Gombe Stadium that the measures were taken after erring members faced the corps disciplinary committee.

“A total of 683 corps members are set to pass out today for the 2021 batch A stream II service year, out of which seven absconded and 11 received an extension of service after facing the corps disciplinary committee for various offenses committed,” Imoni said.

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N1.7trn Loan: Atiku Blames NASS For Worsening Nigeria’s Debt Burden

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.

In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.

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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.

“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.

He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.

“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.

Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.

“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said

He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.

“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”

Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.

He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.

“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.

“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.

He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.

 

 

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ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.

In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”

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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.

Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.

The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.

With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.

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Edo State Governor Sets Up Committee To Recover Missing Gov’t Vehicles

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Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.

The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.

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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.

He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.

In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.

“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.

“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”

The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.

“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”

He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.

“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.

The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.

 

 

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