Npower News: People Living With Disabilities Urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu To Appoint Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

The Coalition of People Living With Disabilities in the nineteen Northern States and Abuja has begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the appointment of one of their own, Adenike Tejuosho as the Minster for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Reports have it that the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a minister since the suspension of Betta Edu and the National Social Investment Programmes which includes Npower in January by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Members of the coalition of People Living With Disabilities that met on the historical Arewa House include People Living With Disabilities across the nineteen states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as well as the APC of People Living With Disability (PWD) members, the National Association of Nigerian Students, and National Youth Council of Nigeria, among others.

The groups said they had consulted widely over their choice and concluded to recommend Adenike Tejuosho as their choice as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The Chairman of the coalition, Aliyu Sani Mohammed, who spoke on Adenike Tejuosho's behalf, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the support extended to them People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) and the senior citizens in his first year in office.

Aliyu Sani Mohammed, praised President Bola Ahmed wife and Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her firm support to her husband, in addition to the agricultural support Senator Oluremi Tinubu has recently extended to People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) across the federation at the commencement of the farming season.

Aliyu Sani Mohammed said that one request that is very dear to them is to join several other groups and individuals to drum up support for Mrs Halimat Adenike Tejuosho who has over the years distinguished herself as a true humanitarian to be appointed as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“As a selfless patriot who has been using her personal resources to bring succour to senior citizens, the PWDs and the less privileged through her well thought out “Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation,” giving her a position of responsibility in line with her passion and interest, will energise her to do more for the downtrodden in our society.

“Judging by all the individual sacrifices and the sheer passion to touch lives, the coalition appealed to Mr. President to urgently consider filling the vacuum created with the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu by appointing Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to enable Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the area of poverty alleviation.

“It goes without saying that since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a Minister, the government is failing in providing basic succour to the less privileged.

“From her antecedents and if given the opportunity, Tejuosho, will continue to extend her generosity and passion to bring a turn around in the fortunes of the less privileged and downtrodden in Nigeria,” Aliyu Sani Mohammed said.

Aliyu Sani Mohammed also argued that the permutations that Adenike Tejuosho is not from the South-south geo-political zone should not be used as the yardstick for picking the next Nigerian to occupy the Humanitarian Ministry, noting that merit must supercede ethnicity.

“We do not want to trivialise the issue of origin and region as competence and merit should triumph over issues of origin and other differences that only serve to divide, rather than unite us,” Aliyu Sani Mohammed emphasized.

Further speaking, Aliyu Sani Mohammed further pointed out, “Therefore, it is our earnest appeal to Mr. President to consider appointing this noble, hardworking and dedicated humanitarian and party stalwart as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“As a mark of true philanthropy, the quintessential lady recently celebrated Children’s Day with vulnerable and indigent children where over 500 school books, bags, shoes, water bottles, foodstuffs and writing materials were shared.

“Her Ramadan largesse to over 1000 PWDs as well as Sallah packages to hundreds of households who could not afford to celebrate the festivities cannot be forgotten.

The Coalition reiterated the support and efforts made by the over 27 million PWD community in the country who had worked for the election of President Tinubu and appealed to grant their only one wish by appointing one of them who has distinguished herself as a minister of the Federal Republic.

“We are united with one voice without any external influence in making this appeal and prayer. It will be a privilege to appoint this selfless woman as a minister because we are very sure she will deliver. This is our collective resolve born out of the conviction that with the support she has been giving people in the community for over 10 years, she’s the right person for the job. Politics, region and other considerations should be put aside to allow competence and merit to prevail,” the chairman declared.

Another leader of the PWDs, Sani Ahmed, while also imploring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick Adenike Tejuosho whom he described as one with the “golden heart,” said that the positive and laudable efforts of Adenike Tejuosho's Humanitarian services could be seen and felt across the thirty six states of the federation, including Abuja, especially among the people with disabilities.

Adamu Abdullahi, yet another People Living With Disability (PWD) said at the gathering, that “the woman has always been there for the disabled people for long. Therefore, we (persons with disabilities) are appealing to the president to consider our request.”

Another member, Esther Jonah, said, “I am happy to be here because we know our father (Tinubu) is a listening person who listens to the yearnings of the poor. Our father (Tinubu) should consider Adenike Tejuisho by giving her a ministerial appointment.

“I have never met her but I have heard what she has been doing. I hear about what she had done for our people and I know she will do better if she is there in the ministry,” Esther Jonah appealed.

Source: https://punchng.com/pwds-beg-tinubu-to-appoint-humanitarian-minister/

Npower News Today Monday June 3rd 2024

According to Npower News today the conditional cash transfer training for desks officers and SCTU staffs is ongoing across the federation once the conditional cash transfer training ends then enumeration commences, applicants are advised that the conditional cash transfer application will not be done online but done physically at the state cash transfer office, applicants are advised to visit the state cash transfer office for their enumeration and enrollment, beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer under the Renewed Hope program will receive 75,000 every three months from the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO).

According to Npower News on Npower payment, beneficiaries should kindly note that Npower suspension has not been lifted, but there are speculations that Npower payment will start by June 15th, beneficiaries of Npower should kindly note that Npower payment cannot start when Npower is still under suspension and the Betta Edu's investigation is yet to be concluded. Npower payment to beneficiaries of Npower will start when the suspension of Npower by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is lifted, at the moment the only component that is active is the conditional cash transfer program, the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme and the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme GEEP is also under suspension.

According to Npower News, the National Coordinator of Npower has said that if Npower payment do not start latest by June 15th then a massive protest will be carried out at Abuja, beneficiaries of Npower are hereby directed and advised to exercise patience till June 15th.

Npower Stream 2 Payment News Today on Payment Monday June 3rd

According to npower stream 2 payment news today on payment Monday June 3rd, the National Npower coordinator has taken to Facebook to say that if Npower payment does not commence lattest by Saturday June 15th, then there will be a massive demonstration at Abuja.

Recall that the Npower national coordinator in previous videos and publications had announced and inform beneficiaries of Npower batch c stream 2 that Npower payment will start by June and the suspension of Npower will be lifted. Although the conditional cash transfer which is a component of the National Social Investment Programme has commenced again, the Presidency is yet to mention anything regarding the lifting of Npower suspension nor the payment of outstanding stipends to beneficiaries of Npower.

According to Npower News, beneficiaries are implored to exercise patience till June 15th, once Npower payment is not made by June 15th then a massive demonstration will start this month. Beneficiaries of Npower are advised to make good use of the federal government schemes being rolled out as they await their Npower payment by June 15th all things being equal.

Students To Start Getting Student Loan Disbursement In 3 Weeks Time

According to Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, the managing director of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) students will start getting the student loan disbursement of the first phase  in 3 weeks time.

Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, disclosed this on Saturday, June 1, 2024, during an NTA Weekend File live programme where Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, spoke on ‘Monitoring First Phase of Students Loan Scheme’.

“We will begin to disburse the students’ loan in the next 20 days, when the academic session starts,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said.

Speaking on some challenges being faced by students applying for the student loan, the NELFUND managing director stated that there are glitches on the student loan application because sometimes the students’ registration numbers and other required numbers do not match with what is in the student loan application portal, hence, they may be denied access on the student loan portal until such is sorted out.

Meanwhile, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, disclosed that there is a skill acquisition provision in the Students’ Loan Act as amended.

“The initial Act did not include skills acquisition, but the amended Act has included it,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said.

Explaining why there was an infusion in the re-enacted Act, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requested for a skill acquisition provision to be added to the new Act because Nigeria requires a skilled workforce to grow its economy.

“The Students’ Loan Scheme provides funds for those who want to upgrade their skills, and Nigeria needs skilled man power,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, noted.

However, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, explained that the main problem faced by the agency in executing this aspect of the student loan is that NELFUND has to set the standards for selecting those seeking the student loan for their skills upgrading.

In addition to this, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, pointed out that engaging the youth in skill acquisition will go a long way in helping the country tackle armed robbery, banditry, and other manners of crimes associated with idle youngsters.

The student loan application portal was launched on Friday, May 24, 2024, to relieve Nigerians from the burden of trying to bridge their children’s higher education gap and to help youth actualise their lives dreams and academic aspirations.

The student loan scheme is seen by many as one major landmark that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration is serious about repositioning education in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), students can access student loans to pursue their academic aspirations and live their dreams without financial constraints and limitations through the student loan as it is going to be rolled out in phases.

“The first thing I can tell you is that we’re going to roll this out in phases, the first phase is going to be with federal institutions and then we’re going to move to the other tertiary institutions.

“It’s going to be the public sector mainly at the beginning because that’s where we find the bulk of students who perhaps need the financing cover,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said.

Source: https://businessday.ng/news/article/student-loan-disbursement-to-commence-in-20-days-sawyer/

Federal Government of Nigeria Kick Start ₦75,000 Conditional Cash Transfer To Vulnerable Households

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it has resumed its social intervention scheme of conditional cash transfer of ₦75,000 cash transfers to 15,000,000 households nationwide to combat the impact of inflation.

Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, revealed this on Tuesday, at a ministerial sectoral briefing to mark the first year in office of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration in Abuja.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in November 2023, launched the conditional cash transfer programme targeted at 15,000,000 households across the federation to receive ₦75,000 within three months.

However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on January 12, suspended all social programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) including Npower for six weeks, as part of a probe of alleged misappropriation of public funds in the management of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and the National Social Investment Programmes. This was followed by the suspension of Betta Edu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on January 8.

The National Social Investment Programmes includes Npower, the conditional cash transfer scheme, the government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the national home-grown school feeding program.

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To reactivate the conditional cash transfer program, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel, led by Wale Edun the Minister of Finance, to carry out an thorough review and audit of the existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the national social investment programmes.

Speaking on Tuesday, Wale Edun said the government had decided to restart the conditional cash transfer programme to provide succour to poor Nigerians.

The Minister for finance Wale Edun, stated that the beneficiaries of the ₦75,000 conditional cash transfers scheme are 15,000,000 households across the federation, adding that the Federal Government has developed a system to ensure that payments go directly to beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) through digital routes.

Noting that the federal government has employed Mobile Network operators to fasten the roll-out of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, the Minister Wale Edun, said beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) must have a National Identity Number (NIN), account number or mobile wallet to receive the conditional cash transfer payments.

“As the Chairman of the Presidential Panel of Social Investment Programme, the all-important direct payment to the poor, which is the veritable tool and sharpest tool we can have for attacking increased living standards, that programme has been restarted. It involves 75,000,000 Nigerians and 15,000,000 households with the payment of ₦75,000 in the immediate term.

“To ensure public trust is there, we have a system that has been developed between the Ministers of Communications and Digital Economy, Health, and Youths with global best standard in providing direct payment.

“On the one hand, each person must have a National Identity Number. Secondly, the payment must be through digital routes, whether BVN, that is bank accounts or mobile wallets.

“Mobile Network operators have been recruited to ensure we have a faster rollout of the programme. That is one of the key ways initially that the poor and vulnerable will be helped,” Wale Edun said.

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The Student Loan of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Like many of the programmes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated in the first year of his administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Student Loan made its epileptic journey to reality with the signing of the executive bill, Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2024, into law in April.

The Act is a great improvement of an earlier effort which had to be withdrawn last year because it was too restrictive. The Act goes beyond tuition alone and covers some other aspects of student welfare. It also accommodates a wider coverage of students in federal and state institutions which do not charge fees, as well as those in vocational training and registered private educational institutions.

Another commendable feature of the student loan is that it removes the restrictions on family income thresholds and guarantor requirements in determining those who qualify. It is a far more inclusive package than the former proposal, and will surely add value to the education system if faithfully and sustainably implemented. With this student loan, any willing and able Nigerian who gains admission into designated tertiary institutions needs not drop out on ground of financial indigence and constraints.

While we praise and commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the courage in extending this dividend of good governance to children of the ordinary Nigerians, we call his attention to the need to provide an enabling economic environment so that beneficiaries of this student loan can pay back according to the terms of the student loan. A situation whereby students graduate from these institutions and remain idle for years, languishing on the unemployment queue and the labour market, will not only lead to involuntary mass student loan defaults, it could easily kill the student loan scheme.

Those who criticise this student loan point out that it adds more burden on a system that has already failed to meet the existing basic needs of our educational system. For instance, the student loan does not in any way address the conditions that push the workers’ unions of tertiary institutions to strike almost annually. If anything, it could add to reasons for mass actions by the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, if poorly run.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should further reaffirm his commitment and dedication to a better educational system by meeting with unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU; Non-Academic Union of Universities, NASU; and others, to come up with a comprehensive package of reforms and funding that will address the poor quality of higher education in Nigeria.

The issues of low morale among tertiary education staff due to poor welfare, dilapidated school infrastructure, irrelevant curriculum and the growing insecurity of our educational institutions must be addressed. The quality of education we give our children does not really prepare them for survival, let alone leadership. Majority of our students are just going through the motions and coming out no better than those who did not “smell” the ivory tower.

This must stop.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/06/tinubus-students-loan-scheme/