Governor Adeleke Creates Imole Youth Corps, Dissolves O-YES In Osun State

 The Government of Osun State has dissolved the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES), creating the Imole Youth Corps.

In a circular issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye, the State Government said the decision was taken to reposition the Youth empowerment programme inherited from the previous government for effective functionality, sustainability and dignity of labour.

"In fulfilling one of the electoral promises of His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke in ensuring meaningful and proper youth Engagement in the state, a new Scheme code named Imole Youth Corps is hereby put in place to engage our teeming youths in the state. 

"Application forms will be available for prospective youths in all the 30 LGs including Ife East Area Office of the State FREE of charge beginning from Friday, 17th February, 2023.", the statement noted.

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed, 
Spokesperson to the Executive Governor

Naira Swap: Banks Run Out Of Cash In Kano

 The excruciating pains confronting Kano residents as a result of naira scarcity may soon degenerate as commercial banks in the ancient city now operate with zero cash in their vaults.

Worse still, the new and old generations of financial institutions have stopped receiving old naira notes from customers in the last three days despite a government threat to sanction erring outlets that turn down the legal tender.

Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, Barr. Mahmoud Balarabe told journalists at the end of the commission’s enforcement operation Wednesday evening.

Barr. Balarabe disclosed that the Anti-corruption Commission had embarked on enforcement operations to banks, petroleum stations and other outlets following a series of public outcry on the outright rejection of the old naira notes.

Against the raising pressure and mounting accusation on commercial banks over the scarcity of new naira notes in circulation, the Anti-corruption boss declared that the majority of financial institutions are now running with empty vaults after depositing old notes to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Barr. Balarabe said, the commission monitored cash flow across and distribution at about 10 branches of various commercial banks in Kano and uncovered that both the old and new legal tender were not available. He said the bank managers revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) refused to issue new naira notes to them.

” We visited the banks and check the vaults and unfortunately we realized they are operating zero vaults in Kano. Our initial belief is the banks were hiding the naira notes and deliberately refused to distribute them to the public. However, we were proven wrong. CBN has refused to give them money after the banks already made remittance to the CBN”.

Barr. Balarabe however warned supermarkets, filling stations and other business premises to desist from rejecting the old naira notes or risk maximum sanction. He issued a similar threat to POS operators from taking the advantage of the cash scarcity to charge outrageous prices.

Anti-corruption threatened to arrest and prosecute any business outlets who reject the old naira notes and insisted the currency remain a valid legal tender. He said a few people have already been arrested for violation of the directive.

Barr. Balarabe equally disclosed that the commission held a meeting with the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) against those adjusting their pump and violating the regulated price.

Shehu Sani: Aggrieved Nigerian Governors Should Join AAC, Sowore’s Party

 Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has asked Governors aggrieved with their parties to join the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore in his party.

Recall that some Governors are at loggerheads with the leadership of their parties especially as the general elections approaches.

Some of the Governors have also been involved in prolonged legal battles with their parties.

Advising them, the former lawmaker said Sowore’s party could offer the Governors some sort of succor as the party is crisis-free.

“Governors who are aggrieved with their parties should join Brother Sowore’s Revolutionary party where there is no crisis. They should only be ready to go to court daily, Jog weekly and protest monthly.”

Burna Boy, Tems And Rema To Headline NBA All-Star Game Half Time Show

 GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer @burnaboy, 2023 GRAMMY Award-winning singer and Oscar-nominated singer and producer @temsbaby and rapper and singer @heisrema will headline the NBA All-Star Game 2023 halftime show with an Afrobeats-themed performance.

NECO Releases 2022 SSCE External Results

 The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Thursday announced the release of the result of the November/December 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination.

The Registrar of NECO, Prof Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, made the announcement in Minna, Niger state.

According to the NECO boss, a total of 59,124 candidates sat for the examination, with 31,316 males, representing 52.96 per cent while 27,808, representing 47.03 per cent were female.

Wushishi added that the number of candidates that sat for English Language is 58,012 out of which 44,162, representing 76.13 per cent got Credit and above, while the number of candidates that sat for Mathematics is 57,700, out of which 43,096, representing 74.69 per cent got Credit and above.

He further disclosed that the number of Candidates who got five Credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics is 33,914 representing 57.36 per cent.

“Also 46,825 candidates, representing 79.20% got five Credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of examination malpractice, he said, “11,419 candidates were booked for various forms of malpractice is , as against 4,454 in 2021, which shows a sharp rise in the number of malpractice cases”.

According to him, this is largely due to the improvement in the strategy and technique adopted by the monitoring officers.

“This led to the blacklisting of four supervisors, one each from Rivers and Plateau States and two from Ogun State for aiding and abetting as well as poor supervision,” he said.

Recall that the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination, External was conducted by NECO from 21 November to 21 December 2022 and is being released 57 days today after.

Speaking further on the examination, Wushishi said, a total of 29 subjects were examined as was done in 2021.

Commercial Banks In Benin City Were Destroyed Yesterday

 Yesterday morning alot of resident in Benin rush down to deposit their old naira note in their banks but those money were rejected this spark up anger which lead to violence later became uncontrolled, three life were lost 90 percent of commercial bank in Benin were destroy. In swift reaction from Edo state government instead of blaming CBN decided to turn it into political argument by blaming oshiomhole and APC.

Emefiele Arrives Villa, Urges Compliance To Buhari’s Directive

 The President of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday, said he had met with the leadership of at least 15 commercial banks since the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), announced his latest directive on the new Naira policy.

Emefiele’s visit comes hours after the President, in a televised message, announced that only the old N200 note will remain a legal tender until April 10, 2023.

The CBN Governor was at the State House, Abuja, for a separate assignment (not with the President).

He said the meeting with the bank executives earlier on Thursday was to ensure an ample supply of the old N200 notes to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.