The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, says the recent increase in corps members’ allowance has not been implemented due to funds.

The Wawe had reported how the Federal Government approved the increment of corps members’ monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, effective from July 2024.

The increment, according to a statement by the NYSC on its official Facebook page, was contained in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.

But despite the official announcement, the increment did not reflect on corps members’ September monthly allowance as they received N33,000 instead of the approved N77,000.

But speaking to the BBC Hausa service, the NYSC DG explained that although there was approval for the increment, government was yet to release funds to the scheme for the implementation of the new allowance.

He said, “Not only the corps members, even our staff members’ salary has been increased about four to five months ago, but it has not been implemented yet. But we are hopeful that the new pay will be implemented soon, but the funds have not been released to us yet.

“The information we have did not specify when the new allowance will be paid, but we were assured that their monthly allowance has been increased from 29th July 2024.”

The Federal Government (FG) has officially previewed the contactless biometric capture passport application.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo carried out the preview on behalf of the FG in a ceremony on Friday.

Tunji-Ojo following the historic event took to his official X account on Saturday to express his excitement over the achievement.

“Beloved Nigerians, in fulfillment of our promise to deploy a contactless solution for biometric capture, I am pleased to announce that this vision has finally become a reality,” he wrote.

“Yesterday, I hosted a cross-section of stakeholders including top government officials, civil society organizations, media representatives and tech experts to preview the Nigerian Immigration’s innovative contactless biometric capture passport application.

“This cutting-edge technology enhances the passport acquisition process by allowing eligible applicants to initiate and complete their applications seamlessly from the comfort of their homes or workplaces on their mobile devices.

“The new feature is undoubtedly a game-changer and we are eager to fully roll it out in our new passport regime.

“Our goal remains to transform our systems and methods to align with global best practices, setting the pace for other nations to follow without compromising national security.

“After previewing this solution with these stakeholders, we will incorporate their feedback to refine the system. In the coming days, we plan to first launch this service for Nigerians in the diaspora.

“As a nation, we are setting new records and it brings me great joy to see the efforts of President Bola Tinubu bear fruit.

“I would also like to thank all the stakeholders who made history with us yesterday as we look forward to what we will achieve in the days ahead.”

The House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Digital, Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, said the time has come for Nigeria to embrace electronic voting in its democratic process.

Olajide stated this in an interview with The Guardian in Ibadan.

The lawmaker, who represents Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West federal constituency in Oyo State, said e-voting would go a long way in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.

He said: “The time has come for Nigeria to go into e-voting. Anything technology is the way to go. Look, the human interference in technology is the issue. Technology in itself is a good thing. But if you now have human interference in the wrong way, then you start having the wrong behaviour of technology. So, yes, we are ready for it. The political will might not be there totally.

“But again, we will move, regardless of whether you win or lose the election. The future generation must be protected on how they exercise their rights. So, that’s why I believe in e-voting”.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation as part of his annual leave.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday said he would use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.

He will return to the country after the leave expires.

Tinubu departed at exactly 2:35pm, after exchanging pleasantries with some top government officials in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The president celebrated Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day anniversary with a speech, in which he said the Federal Government would introduce a 30-day confab aimed at including the youth in his administration.

The President said the modalities of the confab and selection of delegates would be designed as soon as possible.

“As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanise their creative energy towards a better future,” he said during his second Independence Day anniversary broadcast since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

“We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognising that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.

“Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population.

“It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

“The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice.

“The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations.

“The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.”

Tinubu further said his administration decided to reform Nigeria’s political economy and defence architecture for the nation to survive.

The President also saluted the doggedness of the Nigerian people, saying the country has survived crises that disintegrated other nations.

Tinubu said his administration is determined to win the war against bandits and terrorists so that displaced farmers can return to their farmlands and boost production to reduce soaring food prices.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has advised Nigerians resident in Lebanon to consider moving out of the country now that commercial flights are still in operation.

NIDCOM said the advice is a result of its worry over the attacks on Hezbollah and other areas in Lebanon by Israeli government.

This was made known in statement signed by Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit at NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

“Though information from the Nigerian community in Lebanon indicated that most Nigerians have relocated from the southern part and are now relatively safe, we hereby advise them to keep safe until the ceasefire is in place.

“It is gratifying to note that thus far, no Nigerian has witnessed any form of accident or injury and wish to advise them to continue to remain safe while the war lasts.

“Nigerians are equally advised to liase with our Embassy in Lebanon for necessary guidance regarding their safety and be rest assured that their welfare and safety is of utmost concern to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.

Israel shifted its focus last month from the war in Gaza, which was sparked by the October 7 attacks by Iran-backed Hamas, to securing its northern border with Lebanon.

As the Security Council met, Israeli forces were battling Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, following “targeted ground raids” across the border by Israel on Tuesday.

More than 1,000 people have died since last week, in fighting that has included Israeli strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs.

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday criticized President Bola Tinubu for allegedly presenting misleading statements about his accomplishments in his 64th Independence Day address.

The opposition party argued that Tinubu’s speech highlighted the ruling All Progressives Congress’ disregard for the challenges faced by Nigerians.

In response, the APC labeled the PDP as a desperate party trying to regain significance.

In a statement released on Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba described Tinubu’s speech as a “complete waste of time,” emphasising that it failed to address the pressing economic and security issues currently plaguing the country.

During his national address on Tuesday morning, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of reform to secure Nigeria’s advancement and success.

He cautioned that maintaining the status quo could result in the country’s downfall.

The President mentioned that since assuming office 16 months ago, his government has focused on overhauling the political economy and defense system in response to the nation’s difficulties.

“We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business as usual and collapse,” Tinubu said, highlighting that his administration had attracted over $30bn in foreign direct investment in the past year.

In reaction, the PDP criticized the speech for not addressing the struggles of millions of Nigerians, such as economic challenges, joblessness, and severe poverty.

The opposition party said, “The 64th Independence Day speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is another lethargic and windy rhetoric of false performance claims and empty promises.”

The PDP criticized the APC government for its disregard of the public’s hardships, claiming that the speech reinforced their belief that prospects for improvement under the current administration were dim.

The PDP voiced surprise that the President’s speech minimized key concerns like the severe economic hardship and hunger that had earlier sparked public demonstrations.

It also challenged Tinubu’s promises of economic growth and reduced living expenses, stating that these assertions contradicted the current reality of increasing fuel costs and unemployment.

The PDP called on President Tinubu to adopt a more proactive approach, encouraging him to visit markets or interact with urban youth to gain a clearer picture of the people’s actual situation, rather than depending on misleading data from his advisers.

The PDP  cautioned that the APC-led administration seemed intent on stifling democracy, as the speech notably omitted any mention of the erosion of electoral credibility and citizens’ rights under its governance.

Overall, the PDP’s response reflects deep dissatisfaction with the APC’s handling of the nation’s pressing issues and a call for more genuine engagement with the public.

Reacting, however, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that the PDP’s reaction stemmed from its frustration over the ruling party achieving what they could not.

The PDP warned that the APC-led government appeared determined to undermine democracy, as the speech conspicuously failed to address the decline in electoral integrity and the suppression of citizens’ rights under its rule.

In general, the PDP’s response signals significant discontent with the APC’s management of the country’s urgent problems, along with a demand for more sincere interaction with the public.

In response, the APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, remarked that the PDP’s criticism arose from their frustration over the ruling party’s success in areas where they had failed.

He stated “For the PDP, rather than burying their heads in shame, they claimed the President’s speech is empty.

The PDP needs to realize that ever since they left the political stage, stability has been restored in Nigeria, bringing peace back to the nation and to Abuja, the center of power.

“Since the PDP left office, the situation has improved day by day under the APC government. During the PDP’s time, there was no peace in Abuja, making it difficult for a sitting President to address the nation from Eagle Square.

“Under an APC-led federal government, Nigerians are experiencing peace of mind. Therefore, the PDP’s reaction to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech is nothing but an afterthought; they are merely reacting because they see what they failed to achieve being accomplished by the APC government. By the grace of God, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move Nigeria forward.”