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NASS legislative aides allege diversion of N128m salary arrears by Clerk

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The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum on Thursday alleged that the Clerk to the National Assembly Assembly, Arch. Amos Olatunde Ojo diverted the sum of N128 billion meant for offsetting salary arrears and other contingent allowances.

The forum is a body of  parliamentary staff employed on tenure basis working with lawmakers in the upper and lower legislative Chambers.
At a world press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Salisu Usman Zuru lamented that the 9th National Assembly under the current leadership has subjected the legislative aides to untold hardships since 2019.
The group further alledged that there was monumental corruption and stealing perpetuated by the Clerk, given that there was a budgetary provision for offsetting of arrears in 2019, but which the whereabout of the fund remain a mystery.
The aides averred that their salaries and arrears ought to have started from the date of assumption on the June 11, 2019 being inauguration day alongside their principals, but in a twist, the Arch. Ojo-led NASS management did pay some aides and left others.
The forum revealed that they have explored all a available means to sort out the impasse without fruitful results, even as the House of Representatives sometime ago passed a resolution that all arrears of salaries, allowance and Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) be paid.
Amid pressure to be paid after the House Resolution, the Chairman of the forum, said, a new twist was introduced as the CNA told the NASSLAF executive that there was no money.
The Chairman explained the NASSLAF executive was once accused of compromise because of their firm belief of approaching the matter with diplomacy, stressing that it was the ‘compromise belief’ by some members that gave rise to another forum operating under the aegis of “Salary Affected Legislative Aides Forum.”
“In the 2019 Appropriation Act, the sum of N128 billion was appropriated for salaries and overhead for legislators, National Assembly bureaucracy and legislative aides. 
“Legislative aides’ matters being directly under the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of House of Representatives, aides got the attention and sympathy of some of their principals in the House of Representatives to raise the issue and seek respite on the floor of the House.

“The issue was raised at the floor of the House and was unanimously adopted and referred to the House Services Committee for investigation. The Committee led by Hon Wahab Raji in their report to plenary in July 2020 recommended immediate payment of all outstanding salary arrears without delay. 

“The 9th NASSLAF EXCO have been battling management on these issues since inauguration in October 2020 to no avail. Management at first claimed that they have not received the report of the Hon Raji committee mandating it to pay up the arrears. 
“Again, EXCO mounted pressure on Hon Raji committee to facilitate the transmission of the report to the CNA. On receipt of the report, the next pranks by management was that there was no money. 
“All these while, our colleagues have concluded that the leadership of NASSLAF have been compromised. This led to the emergence of what is today known as the “Salary Affected Legislative Aides”, a pressure group, ostensibly, to support the effort of EXCO.”
They further accused the NASS management of not paying minimum wage, adding that the National Assembly Service Commission was also complicit in the plight of aides.
But in a swift reaction through a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Labour to the Clerk, Adesoro Tolu Austen, he dismissed the allegation, describing it as unfounded and speculative.
He said, NASS management treats issues on the basis of priority, adding that NASSLAF executive should learn to communicate challenges faced by the National Assembly.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, described as baseless speculative and unfounded allegations by the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAFF) that the National Assembly Management allegedly diverted and embezzled funds appropriated for Legislative Aides
He said: “NASSLAFF should learn to exhaust the internal mechanism for dispute resolutions as stipulated in the extant Labour Laws and also come to terms with reality of the paucity of funds confronting the Legislature and the nation with urgent need to prioritize the copious needs on ground”, he said.

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Associates, Friends of Late Cairo Ojuogboh plan befitting farewell

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Senator Gada and Edwin Clark
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***Want FG, Delta State to immortalize him

Associates, friends and family of Cairo Ojuogboh have come together to organize a befitting farewell for him under the leadership, directive and supervision of Chief Clark whom they described as the father of the nation
Ojuogboh a medical Doctor and former house of representatives member slumped and died in Abuja February 8, 2024 while watching the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final encounter between Nigeria and South Africa.
Senator Abubakar Gada who is the second chairman of the burial organizing committee unveiled the programe of activities to journalists in Abuja on Friday.
He said the program of Activities included National evening of Tributes in honour of Cairo Ojuogboh holding in Abuja on Sunday, 14th, April 2024 with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the Chairman.
Senator Gada described late Dr. Ojuogboh as an enigma and a personality that the nation will take a long time missing him as the mourning continues.

“He was a nationalist, Ojuogbo had no tribe, he had no ethnicity, he had no boundary, Cairo was for the country and indeed for humanity.
“When he suddenly passed on, it was with shock and disbelief which we are still battling to come to term with that reality.

“Cairo was a household name in Nigerian politics, Cairo was a friend.We miss you Cairo and we will continue to miss you.

“He has had his life dedicated to building bridges and reconciling the community, societies and indeed the nation tirelessly. God will surely give the family the fortitude to bear this loss.”

On the need for the Federal Government to immortalize him, he said Ojuogboh by his standing, naturally is an immortalised individual because generations yet unborn, will meet and reflect on his life and sacrifices for humanity as a medical doctor, as a politician, as a parliamentarian, endlessly.

“So, coming to specifics, Cairo is from Anioma in Delta state, he crisscrossed this nation in his effort to make society not only harmonious but consciously, development-oriented.

He called upon the government of Delta state to use health sector facility or infrastructure to immortalise Dr Ojuogboh.
“I will also call on the Delta State House of Assembly to immortalise, in addition to whatever respect, they will accord Dr Cairo, they as parliamentarian should immortalise him by having facility, state assembly facility, in Delta state to immortalise Cairo.

“Ojuogboh died during the semi final match the of African Cup of Nations, we have had loses but the most expensive and costly to the nation was that of Ojuogboh

“And so, sport family and the sport sector is hereby invited to immortalise, Dr Ojuogboh as a nationalist, patriot and a sport promoter and fan who believed in the unity that is guaranteed in sports and sportsmanship activities in the country.
“This is because sports happens to be one sector that unifies the nation so easily, so patriotically at all times and it is one thing that has no tribe or religion, or geographical limit. And it’s a reflection of the entirety of what Ojuogboh stood for and believed in.
“He lived and left this country while celebrating Nigeria’s success and victory in this formidable and socio-cultural and psychological sector, sports.

“For this, we call on all, without limits, these level of government to deservingly, reward and immortalise the name of Dr Cairo so that it will be for eternity.”

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Kogi Community, Monarch Celebrate Triplets After 17 Years Of Waiting

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By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

OBA Frederick Durojaiye Balogun, the Olu of Apata and people of Akpata community in Oworo District of Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi on Monday embarked on a wide jubilation as their queen finally delivered a set of triplets after 17 years of waiting.

The Queen, Olori Teniola-Faith Balogun delivered the babies in the early morning of Monday at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja after 17 years of marriage to the Oba.

Oba Fredrick Balogun, the Olu of Apata whose Palace was agog with praise singing and dances as the people celebrated with the royal family, in apparent display of his faith, glorified the omnipotent God.

The elated Oba Frederick told journalists who visited him that God had been very faithful to his family over the past 17 years of waiting upon Him saying that they had put their trust in Him.

“This is our day of joy and rejoicing after receiving these precious gifts from God Almighty after several years of waiting and trusting Him.

“In fact, I am short of words to appreciate and thank God for what He has done for this royal family. No wonder people have gathered around to celebrate with us.

“Another impressive and wonderful thing our God has done for us is that the queen and the triplets are all in good health condition.”

He described the triplets as harbingers of good things to come and a sign that 2024 is a year of many good tidings coming the way of not just Apata community but Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

The Oba also expressed gratitude to his family members, friends, people of Apata community and environs as well as the hospital management for standing by the family all through.

One of the chiefs, Elesho of Apata, Chief Ayodele Rufus-Balogun, in celebration mood, described the arrival of the triplets as “huge blessing” to the Apata community, the Oworo district and Kogi State.

“You can see for yourself how jubilant our people are over the birth of these triplets to our Oba. We are indeed grateful to God”, he said.

Mr Babatunde Adekunle, Secretary, Apata Community Development Association and close associate of the King, said year 2024 would remain indelible in the history of Akpata community.

“We are all gathered here singing and dancing because our joy is full with the blessing we have received from the Almighty God through our royal family”, Adekunle said. (Ends)

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Easter: REDAN President, Prince Adeoye Urges Nigerians to Pray for Nation

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Prince Akintoye Adeoye
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The President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN),Prince Akintoye Adeoye has urged Christians to prioritize prayers for Nigeria’s prosperity, peace, and unity during the Easter celebration.

In his Easter message delivered in Abuja, Prince Adeoye emphasized the significance of the Easter season as a period for spiritual reflection and national prayer. He extended warm Easter greetings to all members of REDAN and to Nigerians across the nation, highlighting the importance of embracing peace, unity, and hope as the country commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prince Adeoye stressed the importance of unity and optimism for a brighter future in his message. “This Easter, let us unite in our prayers and believe that better days are ahead. By doing so, we can realize our goals for affordable housing and sustainable development in Nigeria,” he remarked.

Prince Adeoye also reaffirmed REDAN’s dedication to enhancing the nation’s economy through sustainable real estate initiatives. “Through collaboration and a shared vision, we can foster economic growth and make significant advancements in the housing sector,” he added.

The REDAN President, Prince Adeoye, called upon all members of the Association to uphold the association’s mission of providing affordable housing for all.
He reminded them to remain steadfast in the founding fathers’ ideals and objectives, emphasizing the importance of unity and commitment.

“As we celebrate Easter alongside our Christian brethren, let us not forget to pray fervently for our beloved nation,” Adeoye urged. He pledged that REDAN would continue to offer practical solutions to the government and key stakeholders in the real estate sector to address the housing deficit in Nigeria effectively.

Furthermore, Prince Adeoye declared his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and expressed his commitment to elevating housing development in Nigeria to new heights under his leadership.

Prince Akintoye Adeoye concluded his Easter message by extending his best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful celebration to everyone. He encouraged Nigerians to reflect on the teachings of Jesus Christ and to actively contribute positively to their communities and the nation as a whole.

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