News

Don’t subscribe to Grazing Reserve Bill – Ortom tells National Assembly members

Published

12 months ago

May 2, 2023

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has urged members of the National Assembly to remain vigilant and resist last minute attempts under whatever guise to pass a bill that seeks to deprive Nigerians of their God-given lands in favour of pastoralists across the Country.

Ortom also found it curious that since 2016, the Presidency has sent the grazing reserves bill to the National Assembly bearing different names, and despite the public outcry, it is not giving up the idea of having the bill passed.

Contained in a press statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase, and made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Monday, explained that
if the current administration had concentrated on tackling insecurity in the manner they have pushed for the enactment of a cattle grazing reserves law, the Country would have been safer for every Nigerian.

According to the Statement, “in November 2016, the Senate rejected the controversial bill seeking to establish a Grazing Management Agency which was to ensure the creation of cattle grazing areas across the country.

“It further stated In 2017, the Federal Government again tried to influence the passage of a bill adorning the same regalia which was called National Grazing Routes and Reserves Bill. That bill was similarly rejected following the alarm raised by some patriotic Nigerians.

“The government subsequently introduced the National Water Resources Bill which also came with a singular objective of bringing all water sources (surface and underground) and river banks under the control of the Federal Government, a move that attracted an avalanche of condemnations from Nigerians.

“The Federal Government introduced Ruga, Cattle Colonies and several other programmes, all aimed at creating settlements for pastoralists in all the states of the federation. It is on record that Governor Samuel Ortom was the first to speak out against the draconian bills.

“In August 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari approved recommendations of a committee to review “with dispatch, 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in the country, and to determine the levels of encroachment.” Again, Benue and other states rejected the presidential approval and the idea eventually lost steam.

“It is clear that those who are bent on taking over the ancestral lands of Nigerians to give to pastoralists are looking for the opportunity to hastily pass the bill which they have now renamed as National Grazing Reserves Council Bill. The proposed law has been in the National Assembly after it was reintroduced, and its sponsors, sensing the mood and suspicions of the people, have been trying to find the right moment to have it passed.

“If passed by the National Assembly, the law will establish a Council with the powers to take over land in any part of the country for grazing reserves and pay ‘compensation’ to the land owner(s). Beneficiaries of the usurped land will be pastoralists whose animals will enjoy unfettered access to the land.

“The National Grazing Reserves Council Bill is not only a violation of the Constitution and the Land Use Act but is also a fang of impunity, subjugation and a deeply rooted conquest agenda against Nigerians. The bill is a direct land-grabbing legislation designed to make Nigerians slaves in their country while serving the selfish and parochial interests of herdsmen.”

Ortom urged members of the National Assembly to act as true representatives of the people for the sake of posterity, and to remember that the future and unity of this nation lies in their hands.

He encouragefy the federal lawmakers to remain dogged in their rejection of the bill and any other surreptitious attempt to mock millions of innocent Nigerians who have fallen victim to the occupation agenda.

It must be emphasized that the stand of the Governor on national issues is borne out of patriotism and not for any personal agenda or gain, he believes in fairness, justice and equity.

News

Shettima returns to Nigeria, meets US Secretary, Campbell

Published

21 mins ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the just concluded International Development Association (IDA21) Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President.

Nkwocha said on arrival at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Shettima met behind closed doors with the United States Deputy Secretary, Kurt Campbell, and his team.

“Among issues discussed at the meeting were security, bilateral relations, shared visions, technologicalcooperations, economic and mutual partnership.

“Both countries pledged to work more on deepening their bilateral relationships and their connectivity.”

Deputy Secretary Campbell has been in Nigeria where he was the co-chair of the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) with Foreign Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar.

News

FG approves salary increase for civil servants

Published

37 mins ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Government has approved 25 percent and 35 percent of salary increase for civil servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.

The Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Mr Emmanuel Njoku, said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25 percent and 35 percent in salary increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.

“They include Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) and Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS).

“Others are: Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS). Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).

“The increases will take effect from January 1,” he said.

According to Njoku, the Federal Government has also approved increases in pension of between 20 per cent and 28 per cent for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme.

He said this was in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures and would also take effect from January 1.

He said the move was in line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The official recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases.

“This involves Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for universities.

“For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involves the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).

“The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS),” Njoku said.

News

LASG disburses N849.6m scholarships, bursaries for 10,066 tertiary students

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Government has demonstrated its commitment to providing affordable and quality education to its residents by approving and disbursing a total sum of N849,555,000 in scholarships and bursaries to 10,066 students in its tertiary institutions.

This was announced by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, on Tuesday at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to Sule, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration’s commitment to education is evident in its T.H.E.M.E.S plus Agenda, which prioritises effective and affordable education for all residents.

He noted that Lagos state-owned tertiary institutions did not participate in the recent workers’ strikes, demonstrating the government’s dedication to education development.

“Not going on strike when all other tertiary institutions were on strike is a feat that we pride ourselves on.

“This is to further show that our able governor does not pay lip service to the agenda.

“We know it will keep getting better, we are proud of all our institutions.

“Lagos State University is the oldest institution but new institutions are catching up,” he said.

Recall that the ministerial briefing began on April 24.

It will continue until May 29, with ministries giving accounts of their stewardships in the last one year of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

“The sum of N335,600,000 was approved for 1,591 undergraduates and PhD recipients as 2022/2023 Scholarship Award as well as the 2022/2023 Governor’s Discretionary Awards.

“Also, N513,955,000 was approved for 6,884 in bursary award for undergraduates and law school students.

“A total of N849,555,000.00 was released in 2023 for 8,475, making a total of 10,066 as beneficiaries of the scholarship and bursary,” he said.

Sule mentioned that the state government is focusing on promoting extensive reading among students by rehabilitating and digitising 300 secondary schools and 40 public libraries.

“The reading culture isn’t what it used to be. This is why the administration deemed it necessary to ensure that students have access to these facilities.

“When we digitalised these libraries, we dedicated power generating sets. Monthly, there is N250,000 set aside and given to these secondary schools with digitalised libraries so they would run seamlessly.

“When policies are made, we consider how it will succeed; so, this was well planned out because we have a target,” he said.