News
We’ll soon overcome electricity blackout — LASG
The Lagos State Electricity Bill 2024, which is before the state House of Assembly, will end blackouts in the state.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunlewe, gave the assurance at a one-day public hearing on the bill at the assembly complex on Wednesday.
NAN reported that the Bill for a Law to Repeal the Lagos State Power Sector Reform Law 2018 is to provide for the creation and administration of the Lagos electricity market and related matters.
On March 17, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law a constitutional amendment that allowed states in the country to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid.
Ogunlewe said that the bill, if passed into law, would allow the state government to generate, transmit and distribute electricity directly to end users.
The commissioner said that all electricity users in the state would have access to quality electricity within two years after signing the bill into law.
“We believe that the passage is the beginning of the revolution that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised the people of the state.
“We are going to witness where the state grid will operate in such a way that we are not encountering the challenges that come from a largely single source.
“The first thing the people of Lagos should expect from this bill is provisions in respect of other operators coming into the market and in respect of environmental friendliness.
“At present, there are issues not allowing the operators to do their businesses but they have been resolved in this bill,” he said.
News
Lagos arrests 94 during midnight raid on rail track squatters
The Lagos State Government has arrested 94 persons during a midnight operation on rail track squatters.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab announced the operation on X.com on Wednesday.
According to him, the arrest followed complaints from citizens about illegal squatters, miscreants, and suspected criminal activities along rail track corridors.
Wahad said a locally fabricated short gun, several wraps of illicit substances suspected to be Indian hemp, charms, and a jackknife were recovered from the suspects.
He wrote, “In response to complaints from residents, commuters, and concerned citizens about the nefarious activities of illegal squatters, miscreants, and suspected criminal elements along rail track corridors, the agency conducted a midnight raid along the rail track from Pen-Cinema under the bridge up to Fagba Junction.
“Ninety-four suspects were arrested during the operation, and a locally fabricated short gun, several wraps of illicit substances suspected to be Indian hemp, charms, and a jackknife were recovered.
“The suspects will be charged in court accordingly.”
News
Okpebholo suspends revenue collection in Edo State
Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of collection of all revenues in in the state, with particular attention on motor parks and others, until further notice.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo also ordered the State Police Commissioner to arrest anyone who flouts the order.
The Governor said he will review the issues surrounding the collections soon and decide on the way forward.
“The collection of revenues in the State has been suspended indefinitely. Anyone seen collecting revenues on behalf of the State Government will be arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police is hereby ordered to arrest anyone who flouts the order and collects any kind of revenues on behalf of the State Government.
“The Governor will soon address the issues and concerns raised. He will issue new directives soon. Until then, no one is authorised to collect revenues on behalf of the State Government,” the statement noted.
News
FG to begin payment of pension backlog – Edun
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, says the Federal Government will soon begin payment of pension backlog.
Edun said this during a peaceful rally by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS) at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Tuesday.
“We will start next week to pay everything that we can under the current budget as approved by the National Assembly. What has happened now is that there is backlog in terms of contributions and there is a solution.
“There has been a committee under the Office of the Head Of Service which has met the minister of budget, and I. We have a plan for dealing with the backlog under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
“We are committed to paying it. It has to be paid this year. We are committed to doing that starting from next week,” Edun said.
“We have to have a solution that takes care of everybody, and that is being worked on. Its going to be a question of going to the capital market and raising an instrument that allows that backlog to be cleared once and for all.
“We are going to present to the president, a viable solution using the financial market taking care of the huge backlog under the CPS,” Edun said
He reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to pensioners welfare.
“I am not happy that you have had to take this step and I assure you that any time that you or your leaders seek audience with me, I will be available in the office.
“I was not aware of the Nov. 11 deadline, otherwise I will never have allowed a situation like this. In spite of your age, your situation in terms of cost of living, it costs money to come here. I would have avoided that as much as I could,” Edun said.
Speaking earlier during the protest, the National Chairman of NUPCPS, Mr Sylva Nwaiwu, said CPS had never benefited from any increment of the National Minimum Wage Act.
Nwaiwu said that the Federal Government had not released accrued rights for pensioners for over 20 months (since March 2023 till date).
“Our senior citizens are suffering, after using our youthful years to serve our father land and we get this in return. Please use your good office to help us. Some of our members are bedridden and some have died in the struggle. We cannot feed ourselves, take care of our family or take care of our medical bills anymore,” he said.
The chairman said that they had dropped several letters for the minister but none was acknowledged which made the union members to stage this peaceful rally. Nwaiwu, however, commended the president for raising minimum wage.
Mrs Christiana Ubah, a pensioner, said that she retired in 2015 from the budget office of the federation, and could no longer feed herself. ” See how my face is, it is hunger.”
She complained that for six months, her pension had not been paid by African Alliance, saying that the government needs to come to our aid.
“Among us here are people that retired since march last year and have not been paid a kobo. look at how harsh the economy is because of our leaders.
“We do not have anything to live on now, every year they will tell us in the media that pension fund asset has increased, so why are pensioners not paid.
“We have a constitution in the country that every five years salaries will increase and pension will increase too. We want this reflected,” Ubah said.
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