The federal government has approved the increase of the monthly allowance for Corps Members from N33,000 to N77,000, The Guardian can report.

A statement on Wednesday night by the Acting Director, Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Caroline Embu, said this will take effect from July 2024.

According to the statement, the increase is in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.

It revealed that a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by the Chairman, Ekpo Nta, has been communicated to the NYSC leadership.

“Prior to this, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman, in which he solicited for a robust welfare package for Corps Members.

“The NYSC Boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring much-needed succor to the Corps Members but also boost their morale and motivate them to do even more in their service to the nation,” the statement read.

An executive bill seeking to amend the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act is to be forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly.

The bill seeks to provide that everybody living in Nigeria, including foreigners must be registered and given the National Identity Number (NIN) so that they can be taxed.

This is part of the economic stabilization bills approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting held on Monday.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday alongside the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Strategy, Engagement and Communications, O’tega Ogra.

Onanuga said the economic stabilization bills which are about twenty in number also include bills to amend the Acts establishing the Nigerian Port Authority and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

According to him, the two bills seek to ensure transactions by the two agencies are paid for in Naira.

He said the decision is part of measures by Tinubu’s administration to promote the national currency and reduce the dollarization of Nigeria’s economy.

Also included in the economic stabilization bills is a tertiary education amendment bill 2024, including an amendment to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Act.

The new bill according to Onanuga, when passed into law, will ensure that 30 per cent of TETFUND’s income goes into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund while only 5 per cent of used for TETFUND’s operations.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed a desire to reshuffle his cabinet.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He noted that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the current government has recorded significant achievements in its quest to transform the economy, of which members of the public are unaware.

Onanuga noted that Tinubu has ordered his ministers to ensure they engage the public by publicising what the government is doing in their various ministries.

He said, “I don’t have any timeline. The President has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet and will do it. I don’t know whether he wants to do it before October 1, but he will surely do it.”

Explaining further the reason for Tinubu’s decision, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Strategy Engagement and Communications, O’tega Ogra, said it is based on empirical evidence.

Ogra noted that during the retreat that was organised for the ministers shortly after their inauguration in August 2023, Tinubu made it clear that there would be periodic reviews of their performance and that the review would guide the President’s decision.

The largest stadium in Ogun State, the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta will soon be wearing a new look ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival tagged ‘2024 Gateway Games’.

This piece of cheering news was made public by the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Isiaka Wasiu on Wednesday in an interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG in Abeokuta.

Honourable Wasiu explained that work has started already at the stadium, and it will be completed before the commencement of the Sports Festival in January.

“We are installing a brand new ultra-modern tartan track, we will also re-grass the stadium as well as construct a standard Olympic size swimming pool, coupled with the construction of new tennis courts and handball pitches,” the Commissioner said.

He stated that the State Government is ticking the right boxes in order to deliver a world class event come January.

“Ejeja Sports Complex is equally receiving attention. We are giving the basketball courts in Ejeja a complete make over, the table-tennis hall is undergoing renovation as well as other facilities in the Complex,” he added.

Honourable Isiaka Wasiu stated that the administration of His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun wants to make Ogun State the choice destination for Sports Tourism. “Besides upgrading these sporting facilities at the MKO Abiola Stadium, will hope to construction hostels for athletes in the stadium.”

“At the end of the upgrading of the MKO Abiola Stadium, it will be ready to host not just local and international football matches, but it will be used for major swimming, tennis and handball Championships to mention but just a few.”

We gathered that the State Government wants other African countries and states of the Federation to use the new facilities for a fee.

“These new facilities will be handled by top management sports firms that will generate funds for the government and it will outlive this administration. It’s a long-term project that will help grow the sporting economy of the State,” Wasiu emphasized.

The 10,000 capacity MKO Abiola stadium was commissioned in November 1988, and it has played host to the CAF Women African Nations Cup finals, the Senior West African Football Union Championship and it hosted the state-owned and private football clubs, including the Gateway Football Club and Abiola Babes International Football club among other notable competitions.

“The National Sports Festival is not about football or sports alone, we are fusing it with culture, fashion and tourism, and you know that Ogun State is blessed in these areas. We shall showcase these areas during the 22nd National Sports Festival.”

Other sports facilities across Ogun State will also be upgraded before the start of the Festival, the Commissioner stressed.

On the readiness of the State to host and compete at the National Sports Festival, Honourable Isiaka Wasiu had this to say; “I can assure you that the State will be fully ready for the festival in the area of facilities and hosting a hitch-free event as well as our participation.” 

“We are developing home grown talents and the last National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State is an indication of what to expect from Ogun State at the Festival in January. The best shooter and wrestler at the Youth Games were from Ogun State and that’s the goal, to produce top athletes who will not only rule the festival but also bring glory to Nigeria.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a 14-day strike warning ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve some lingering issues dating as far back as 2009.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the body is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.

It also demanded the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action, and expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics.

It stated that these actions were generating a crisis in the public university system.

“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.

“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” ASUU said

ASUU is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.

It added that it wants funding for the revitalisation of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.

Other issues include the proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.

The United States plans to donate one million doses of the mpox vaccine to African nations facing an epidemic of the virus, President Joe Biden said Tuesday.

An international emergency was declared by the World Health Organization last month after the surge in cases of a new strain of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to nearby countries.

“We must now move quickly to face (the) mpox outbreak in Africa,” Biden told the UN General Assembly in New York.

“We are ready to commit $500 million to help African countries prevent and respond to mpox and to donate one million doses of mpox vaccine, now.”

Biden called on others to match the pledge and “make this a billion-dollar commitment to the people of Africa.”

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

It causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions, and can be deadly.

A total of 25,093 suspected mpox cases and 723 deaths were reported across the African continent between January and September 8, according to WHO.