Author: oduduwanews

The Oyo State Post Primary School Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM has fixed Monday, July 29- August 2, 2024, for computer-based test (CBT) for applicants in the ongoing recruitment exercise for teaching and non-teaching staff of secondary schools.

The Chairman, TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu, stated this in Ibadan today, during a press conference.

He said a total of 62, 000 applicants scaled the application exercise to take part in the computer-based tests for the available positions.

Pastor Alamu said 12,000 applicants put in for non-teaching service, while 50,000 applicants applied for teaching service, under TESCOM.

The Chairman said the Commission is executing the recruitment exercise in conjunction with relevant agencies such as Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Establishment; Office of the Head of Service; and Ministry of Finance.

Pastor Alamu reiterated the Commission’s commitment to a credible exercise, adding that “no applicant should rely on hear-says.”

Pastor Akamu said specific date and time for individual applicants is already can be accessed by applicants through their portals.

He described Governor Seyi Makinde as a lover of Education, who saw the vacuum in secondary schools as one that must be filled, despite its recruitment exercise about four years ago.

He added that the venue for the exam is University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre, Computer Based Testing Centre, Ajibode, Ibadan.

Alamu instructed all applicants to print copies of their CBT examination schedule and their application print-out, bearing their passports, from the job portal.

According to him, “The Commission has approved that the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre, Computer Based testing centre, should conduct the computer-based tests for the applicants because of its pedigree in such exercise.”

The Chairmam said the two print-outs will admit applicants into the CBT examination hall.

He maintained that applicants must adhere strictly to the time and date, sent to them, as loitering around the centre will not be condoned.

The Chairman added that successful candidates from the computer-based tests will be required to appear for oral interview.

Meanwhile, Pastor Alamu said the Commission has made arrangements for applicants, by providing necessities such as tents, chairs, ambulance service and security.

Adebo Ogundoyin during Thursday’s valedictory plenary sitting in honor of Mrs Yetunde Awe, the Clerk of the House, who is retiring from the state civil service.

The governor also indicated in his message his desire to transfer executive powers to the deputy governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, who will serve in acting capacity in his stead.

Makinde’s leave, according to the letter will commence on August 5 and end on September 6, 2024.

“Annual vacation form 5th September 2024 to Friday September 6th 2024
Pursuant to section 190 subsection 1 of the federal republic of Nigeria, I hereby transmit out that during these period indicated above deputy governor Barr Bayo Lawal shall be active governor and shall be acting Governor and shall be back form the vacation September 7th 2024”. Governor Makinde said.

The House has also sworn in Mrs. Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, formerly the deputy Clerk as the Substantive Clerk of the House.

Her swearing in as the new clerk of the house follows her recommendation by the House of Assembly Commission.

Ahead of the planned nationwide protests by some Nigerians, particularly the youth, a pro-Lagos State Government X handle @lagospedia has announced two weeks observation of Oro Festival in various communities in Lagos.

Nigerians have begun reacting to the planned ‘ORO festival’ coinciding with the planned nationwide protest as politically motivated move by those who do not want the protest to hold.

Recall, for several weeks, there has been an agitation by the youths to hold nationwide protest starting from August 1 to 15 to draw the attention of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the current economic challenges facing the country.

Youths have been mobilizing via X platform formally known as Twitter with several hashtags “endbadgovernance”, “Dayofrage” among several others.

Former spokesman to the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala, has raised alarm over potential foreign involvement in the planned protests against the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

Bwala made this assertion after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential Villa in Abuja, stating that the administration is already working to address the country’s economic hardship through various initiatives.

Bwala, who is set to join the ruling party, linked the planned protests to political motivations, suggesting that foreign interests are taking advantage of Nigeria’s poor political climate and economic struggles.

His claims have sparked concerns about external influences on domestic affairs and the true intentions behind the planned protests.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communications and Strategy, has fired back at Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, over a threat to institute a lawsuit against him.

Obi had demanded a retraction and apology from Onanuga over his allegation that Obi and his supporters were behind planned nationwide protests against the Tinubu-led government.

Onanuga, however, remains unapologetic, saying he is not afraid of any legal action and is willing to meet Obi in court. In a post on his official X handle, Onanuga dared Obi and his lawyer, saying “We shall meet in court.” The presidential aide’s bold response has set the stage for a potential legal showdown between the two parties, with many eagerly awaiting the outcome.

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to shelve a planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest slated for next month.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who briefed selected State House correspondents after a meeting with the President on Tuesday, said Tinubu urged the organisers of the protest to shelve the plan and await the President’s response to their complaints.

“The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He’s asked them to shelve that plan. He’s asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas,” the minister said.

The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organisers of the protest have been faceless.

Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Nigeria Police Force as well as the House of Representatives have warned against the planned demonstration.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and embattled Senator Ali Ndume asked the President to address the demands of the displeased persons, who are mostly youths.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Saturday warned that the planned protest, if staged, could degenerate into the destruction of assets that trailed the EndSARS protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings in October 2020.

They were arrested with six trucks fully loaded with lithium, according to a Monday statement by the agency’s Head, Media & Publicity Dele Oyewale. The suspected illegal miners are Yunusa Adisa, Ganiyu Kazeem, Muideen Babayemi, Sulaiman Usman, Adeleke Waliu, Tiamiyu Rokeeb, Olusola Sunday, Oyedokun Oluwagbemiga, Sulaimon Ishiaq and Olufimihan Eniola.

The arrests followed credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in the criminal extraction of solid mineral resources in the state, especially lithium, and their evacuation to unknown destinations. They will be charged to court after investigations, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC has arraigned one Audu Ishida (a.k.a Baddie Kylemilli) for alleged internet crime.
Ishida is facing a one-count charge, bordering on impersonation, retention of proceeds of crime, and money laundering before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna State, Oyewale said in a separate statement.
The charge reads: “That you Audu Ishida (Baddie Kylemilli) on or about the 2nd of June, 2024 in Jos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained the total sum of $50 USD from your victim which you reasonably ought to have known, forms parts of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20(a) of the Money Laundering(Prevention And Prohibition)Act,2022 and punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, prompting prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye to pray the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS). Defence counsel, Umar Usman did not raise any objection.

Justice Buhari ordered that he be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna, and adjourned the case till November 7, 2024, for commencement of trial.
Ishida was arrested alongside other members of an internet fraud ring in Jos, Plateau State following an intelligence-driven raid on their hideouts by operatives of Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC.

Investigations revealed that the defendant created fake online video content and dating sites which he used to defraud unsuspecting victims. Investigations further showed that he obtained the proceeds of his crime through gift cards which he traded online through an FSS card app in foreign currency and converted to Naira and paid into his bank accounts.

A forty five year old man, Taiwo Ojo of Ojido street, Ado Ekiti has been arrested by the police for allegedly having carnal knowledge of his thirteen year old daughter.

The suspect who is a council worker was arrested after a tip off by some members of his community who observed the immoral act.

We gathered that the suspect began to have the unlawful affair with the teenager few years ago after the mother was said to have passed on.

Witnesses said, the act started at Inisa street where the man was residing before but he relocated to Ojido after he suspected that people were already getting to know about the shenanigan.

The survivor in her statement with the police confirmed the allegation and said she had lost count of how many times the father slept with her.

The Ogun State Government has awarded scholarships to nine students who performed creditably well in an essay competition to mark the 90th birthday celebration of the Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Speaking at the 2024 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme held at Prof. Soyinka’s ARI residence, Ijegba, Abeokuta, on Monday, Governor Dapo Abiodun, said they would also be given laptop each for their efforts.

The gesture Governor Abiodun emphasized is to encourage the beneficiaries to keep writing as well as motivate other students to participate in the next edition of the competition.

While describing the Noble Laureate as the most celebrated black African, who has excel in his chosen career, Prince Abiodun noted that as the key to bringing about change and prosperity in Nigeria and around the world, It is imperative to engage the youth and ensure that their thinking and goals are oriented toward progress for the motherland and humanity.

He said the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) was established to honour the legacy and reflects Prof. Soyinka’s lifelong commitment to education, cultural exchange, and in nurturing future leaders, adding that the initiative underscores his values, which include justice, freedom, and the pursuit of excellence in the arts and humanities.

According to Governor Abiodun, this year’s theme, “Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding Nation-Building (E.N.I.O.G.U.N),” perfectly encapsulates Professor Soyinka’s profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world.

The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) consists of three aspects, which comprise essay competition, the advocacy, and the performing arts, which include poetry, drama, and Spoken Word.

The governor said: “We celebrate a project that, for over 14 years, has upheld his ideals and vision. There is no doubt that the Nobel Laureate has optimally utilized the inherent values and wisdom of African culture and tradition in his global engagement as a world citizen of African descent.

“The mission and underlying objectives of WSICE are clear and commendable. They seek to create unity among mankind regardless of nationality, culture, or religion by focusing on youth as the future of humanity, in line with the thoughts and guiding principles of Professor Wole Soyinka.”

The project, Abiodun said is designed to serve as a beacon, illuminating the path for future thinkers who are passionate about the progress and betterment of humanity, pledging that the State would take ownership of the event to make it international.

Speaking while answering questions from children on his life experiences for the past 90 years, Prof. Soyinka said that he did not envisage living up to 90, adding that he decided to be a writer to correct some anomalies from stories he listened to while growing up.

On why he broke into a radio station during the military era, the Nobel Laureate said: “I never broke into a radio station, but sneaked in. The radio station was holding on to something that belonged to the people, and I decided to retrieve it. If that item had been played, it would have demoralized the people and established the culture of brutality.”

He chided Nigerians for always critising the State but refused to examine themselves.

He noted that crimes like kidnapping and robbery, among others, are not because of poverty or inequality, but selfishness and the desire to live a luxury life.

He lauded Governor Abiodun for helping in developing the environment around his abode and saving it from degradation, even as he emphasized that this has led to his not abandoning the country.

The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme drew students from different parts of the country who participated in an essay competition on national and international topics.

About 383 students participated in the competition, 90 were chosen, while nine were selected with Alabi Oluwanifemi emerging the best essayist, Okoye Collins John came second, while Adebusi Adeoluwa, came third.