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Ondo Assembly begins probe of LGs accounts

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The Ondo State House of Assembly has begun auditing the financial transactions of the 18 Local Governments of the state.

Speaking at the commencement of the exercise on Monday, the Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji, said it was the constitutional function of the legislative arm.

Oladiji said that the Assembly was an entire representation of people of the state, hence it must ensure that there was checks and balance for accountability at the grassroots.

He described as worrisome and disturbing, when local governments in the state refused to oblige to show their financial records as ordered by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“It is a sad development when many heads of administration are reluctant to turn up for their records. It’s not their money, but public money. That is why we asked you to come for this exercise.

“Don’t see it as something else because some may want to blackmail us. We are not here to do what it’s not our right, but to do the right thing and for posterity to judge us.

“For eight months, are you saying we should not check your records. Cooperate with us or else, we will use the sledge hammer as a legislative arm of the government,” he said.

The speaker asked the heads of local government administration to cooperate with the house and present every document requested by the committee.

“There is no record that you must keep away from us except you have a secret. If you don’t have any document we ask for now, go back and bring it.

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“Nobody is demanding anything from you. Oblige the Assembly if we demand any record. It is an embarrassment to the Assembly if we request something and you refuse.

“Our aim is that our people should enjoy dividend of the democracy,” he said.

Earlier, Japhet Oluwatoyin, Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that the exercise was a major function of the legislative arm being entrenched in the Constitution.

Oluwatoyin added that the Assembly has power to appropriate and supervise the funds of the local governments.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six local governments that appeared before the committee were: Akoko North-West, Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Akoko South-East, Ose and Owo. (NAN)

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Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim ; Recipient, “Meeting a Woman Championing Impact”

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BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

For Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi,the Minister of Women Affairs, she has been a woman of honor , from her school days, the success story she is still keeping as a top government official and public servant .

As head of two prominent government agencies,NAPTIP, NCFRMI her stint was full of honor through awards and recognition of giant strides organised by Arise TV and This Day to encourage more women engagement.

Even before then , her political outing and exposure , including private endeavors was laced with honor and dignity.

In her recent sojourn as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the first female Minister of Police Affairs ,(State), and now Women Affairs , it is been characterised with awards , commendation and recognition.

Before her last birthday and in the course of her official engagement as Minister of Women Affairs, she has been eulogised for her giant and humane strides not only towards administering her Ministry, but to both gender and the generality of the people.

Imaan has proven beyond standards, her efforts at policing this country as immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, (State) , and in the current capacity as Minister of Women Affairs.

Another great opportunity provided itself on Saturday in Lagos ,2nd, May ,2025, were she was enlisted among great women who was honored as icon tagged “Honoring Icons” for her dedication to womanhood, public service and her great country, Nigeria.

Imaan , one of the three female Ministers of the present administration that was recognized , was also honored in a program, “Meeting a Woman Championing Impact” in an elaborate and well attended program held in Lagos on Saturday.

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The organisers did not know the potentials of the Tinubu’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi who is determined to continue to champion the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration in all ramifications and the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI, the pet project of the wife of the President , Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Imaan had a global outlook interms of recognition and honor as her activities is tailored towards engagement that is instinctively provide and promote global engagements.

It is worth commending and congratulating , the new feat of honor to women of valor that was bestowed on Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi, the Minister of Women Affairs.

Congratulations, Hon Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.

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How SDGs is Accelerating Action on Women’s Welfare In Nigeria

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BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

The determination of the SDGs leadership in Nigeria to resolve poverty , create empowerment and employment opportunities as well as entrepreneurial development had been the cardinal objectives to liberate women from the shackles of underdevelopment.

Therefore, this years International Women’s Day (IWD), 2025, tagged ‘Accelerate action ‘ was not only meant to mark the occasion, but create an enabling environment for women to thrive, equality among men and women as well as promote gender parity amidst daunting environment.

In this vein, SDGs under the leadership of Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has prioritised SDGs Goals (5), and also promoted indices that will make the programs of reducing poverty through its alleviation, against women a cardinal objectives.

Having made the two core issues possible through empowerment and entrepreneurial development to make women self sustaining, realize their potentials, over 1,850 women from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are been empowered with 500 each from 36 states, with series of items in conjunction with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Renewed Hope initiative (RHI) of the office of the First Lady , Senator Remi Tinubu in 2025 .

To forestall the welfare and well-being of Nigeria’s women , efforts are been drew to equate the domesticated action towards women welfare in line with the global action and activities, so as to bring to par women emancipation across length and breadth of the country.

With determination to sustain the tempo , SDGs under SSAP -SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope -Adefulire expressed more commitment while marking this year’s program with the following speech to herald the program.

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In her speech at the occasion, she opined as follows …

“The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has reaffirmed her office’s dedication to implementing policies and initiatives aimed at advancing the welfare and well-being of women and the girl-child, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”

“Her remarks were contained in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Desmond Utomwen, to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day, celebrated under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’. ”

“Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted that this year’s IWD theme serves as a clarion call for collective action to advance gender equality and enhance the welfare and well-being of women. She emphasised that the theme acknowledges the urgent need for the global community to accelerate efforts towards achieving gender equality.”

“The World Economic Forum has estimated that, at the current rate, gender equality may not be achieved until 2158. But we do not need to wait until 2158. We can accelerate action if we take swift and decisive steps that bring us closer to gender equality while continuing to dismantle the systemic barriers that have hindered women’s progress,” Princess Orelope-Adefulire stated.”

“She further reiterated her office’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of women, highlighting OSSAP-SDGs’ interventions in the health sector, including the establishment of well-equipped Mother and Child Hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality rates across Nigerian communities. She also referenced the provision of Transit Homes for abused women and girls.”

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“At OSSAP-SDGs, we remain committed to implementing initiatives that advance gender equality in line with Goal 5 of the SDGs. We will continue working with governments at various levels to deliver interventions that promote the progress and welfare of women, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” Princess Orelope-Adefulire affirmed.”

Having created an enabling environment, no doubt the 2158 envisaged as period of women emancipation and equality, may be altered in view of both domestic and global approach towards women development.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.

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Alleged defamation: Farotimi threatens lawsuit over arrest, detention

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Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has threatened to sue those behind his arrest and detention over the halted defamation case between him and legal luminary Afe Babalola (SAN).

Police authorities had in December arrested Farotimi in Lagos and whisked him to Ekiti, where he was charged with defaming Babalola in his book: ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.

An Ekiti Magistrate court remanded him for 21 days, but Babalola later withdrew the case, ending several weeks of legal tussle.

But those who thought the matter had ended may be in for another run of battle. This is because Farotimi has threatened to sue those behind his arrest and detention.

“Let me continue to reassert that I was always at peace. But when it comes to demanding an account of those who have perverted the powers of the state in pursuit of a private cause, you can be certain of one thing: some people will account for my incarceration, but that is not a matter for banter. That is something for the courts to decide,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

“So even though the criminal suit has been withdrawn, the civil suits are there, and what I would like to do in response to my incarceration is another ball game entirely, but you can take it to the bank: I will certainly be demanding an account from those who sent me to prison,” he said.

When asked who he is suing over his detention, Farotimi said, “My lawyers will decide who is responsible, and they will then proceed to the court.

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“Whether it’s the police that I have to be sued, whether it’s the magistrate who sent me to prison, whether it’s the persons who wrote the petition, whether it’s whoever, but somebody would explain,” the activist said on the show.

Babalola had withdrawn the case after the intervention of some traditional rulers from the South-West region. He said several prominent Nigerians, including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, also sent him letters concerning the matter.

According to the senior advocate, he acquiesced to their pleas, which led him to withdraw the case.

However, Farotimi insists he did not ask anyone to intervene in the matter. The human rights lawyer said he was not consulted before the traditional rulers and others’ visit to Babalola.

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