The NPO Reports, one of Nigeria’s leading online publications, has announced date for the second edition of its Annual National Dialogue.

A statement by the Chief Executive Officer, S-OK Advisory and Media Limited, publishers of NPO Reports, Semiu Okanlawon, said the event with the theme: Revenue Generation, Infrastructure Progress: Options in a Challenged Economy will hold on Tuesday November 26, 2024 at the Nigerian National Merit Award House (Merit House) Maitama Abuja.

He said experts from those in the critical sectors of the economy, revenue generating agencies and policy analysts have been lined up to dissect issues relating to revenue generation and the challenges of infrastructure deficit in the country.

Speakers are expected to dissect issues on generating revenue to meet the huge challenges of infrastructure deficit in the critical sectors of the economy such as Education Health, Security, Roads, and others.

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Prominent among those expected to speak at the event are the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji; former Postmaster General of the Federation Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi who will be the chairman of the event.

Adewusi, who is Chairman of Global West, was also Commissioner for Finance and later Budget and Economic Planning in Lagos under the administration of then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Also expected to speak at the event are a Senior Research Fellow of Political Science in Political and Governance Policy Department at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, Dr. Hakeem Olatunji Tijani; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua; Chief Communication Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Femi Soneye and Idayat Hassan of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CISI).

Okanlawon said the event is in furtherance of the news medium’s commitment to deepening conversations on issues that border on the welfare of Nigerians from the actions of the government.

“For instance, current administrations at all levels are confronted with serious issues of infrastructure decay. These are very ominously manifest in the critical sectors like Education, Health, Roads, Security and others. Funds are needed to fix these.

“However, the administrations are also faced with daunting challenges in getting the needed revenues. Insecurity has made oil revenues unpredictable with the government battling to shore up crude oil production.

“The tax reforms efforts of the government are being met with stiff resistance causing the fears that the leakages of many decades and other factors causing revenue shortfalls may persist. What then are the ways out?” Okanlawon said

He said these and many more are the issues up for discussion as the event holds on Tuesday November 26^th, 2024.

Speakers at the 2023 maiden edition of the programme spoke on campaign promises as accountability issues.

They had called on political stakeholders to hold office holders accountable to the promises they make during electioneering.

The NPO Reports one of the very early online publications, started as Nigeria Politics Online in April 2010.

Some concerned citizens including media and corporate affairs practitioners have issued a clarion call for public spirited individuals and corporate bodies to come to the aid of an ailing journalist, who needs a brain surgery.

Specifically, they appealed to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Banks, the Dangote Foundation, the MTN Foundation and other notable organisations and citizens to help provide the financial assistance required for Kolawole Kuforiji, a Nigerian journalist who requires Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, expected to cost $35,000 about N57 million in Turkey.

Specifically, friends of Kuforiji, who initiated moves to seek financial support from concerned organisations and citizens have so far sent SOS For Journalist Kola Kuforiji requesting for financial assistance to Gov Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, the Dangote Foundation, the MTN Foundation, all Nigerian Banks through the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), the NNPC Foundation, Chevron Nigeria Foundation, Guinness Nigeria Foundation, Nigerian Breweries Foundation, Shell Nigeria Foundation, Total E&P Nigeria Foundation and the Babcock University.

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Beside the calls for institutional supports to save the life of Kuforiji, the group of friends have opened a bank account with Polaris Bank (Name of Account: SOS FOR JOURNALIST KOLA KUFORIJI/Account Number: 1790322317) and have started making individual donations.

Donations to the fund from as little as N1,000 donor to N150,000 donors has rising to N842,940.00 from the last count.

The life of Kola, a 54-year-old husband and father of two, who had worked for about two decades with Rhythm FM (Sliverbird Group) reporting business was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a drug-resistant, Parkinson’s disease with pronounced difficulty in walking and tremor has been very ill for more than two years and the severity and debilitating nature of his illness has depleted the finances of his family.

He was initially treated at the Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos, where a presumptive diagnosis of his medical condition was made.

He was over a year ago referred to the LASUTH, but there has been little improvement in his health.

Medical treatment abroad now offers the best option for his recovery with a recommendation from Atasehir Medicana International Hospital – Atasehir/Istanbul, Turkey confirming that he will need a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.

Over the years Kola has explored his media platform as a strong tool to drive financial inclusion and expanding frontier of knowledge of Nigerians on the activities and stride of the energy, banking and finance sectors at large to national development.

Despite his illness, Kola remains hopeful and determined to overcome.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage for all administrative staff under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

This significant development was disclosed in a statement by Anthony Odeh, the Press Secretary to the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, on Tuesday.

The decision comes as part of efforts to align with the Minimum Wage Bill signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in May 2024, which set N70,000 as the new minimum wage. The move follows concerns raised by labor unions, with the FCT chapters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatening to embark on a nationwide strike on November 30, 2024, over delays in implementing the policy across some states, including the FCT.

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According to the statement, the minister’s approval includes the payment of three months’ salary arrears, effective November 2024, as a measure to alleviate the challenges faced by FCTA staff.

The Acting Head of Civil Service of the FCT, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, praised the decision, noting, “This gesture will further spur the entire administration staff to support the minister in continuing to deliver on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Labor unions had earlier criticised the Wike-led administration for its perceived delay in addressing workers’ grievances and for failing to meet with labor representatives since Wike assumed office in August 2023.

The approval of the minimum wage and arrears payment is seen as a strategic step by Wike to address workers’ concerns and reinforce the administration’s commitment to their welfare. The minister’s actions are expected to ease labor tensions and foster a more productive relationship with FCTA employees.