News

Why I Convened N’Delta Women Stakeholders Meeting – PAP Boss, Otuaro

Published

2 years ago

September 25, 2024

Editor

Joseph Ebi Kanjo|Warri

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has revealed why he convened a Niger Delta women stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in Warri, Delta State.

INFO DAILY reports that the meeting, which was attended by over two thousand women (2,000) across the Niger Delta region, attracted women across ethnic divides in the region.

INFO DAILY also reports that the meeting is a fulfilment of Otuaro’s promise in Port Harcourt some months ago precisely July wherein he pledged to gather women in the Niger Delta region and rob minds with them.

Speaking at the meeting, the PAP boss said women were the backbone of the struggle when the region raised arms against the Federal Government but unfortunately they have not been carried along in the scheme of things as expected.

He noted that the destiny of the Niger Delta lies in the hands of the woman, and that his administration recognises this, hence gathering the women so as to rob minds with them in order to chart a new course for the PAP.

“In the previous programmes carried out by the amnesty office, women were not consulted. So, I feel this is the time to do it right. When you empower a woman, you are assured things will work perfectly.

“So, I said within myself that I should invite the women’s leadership so we can brainstorm on how best to implement some of the Presidential Amnesty programmes,” he noted.

Otuaro, who said so much had been done for the women folks in terms of training and empowerment in the past by the PAP office, noted that the present administration felt enough has not yet been done, hence the meeting.

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“So far, in formal education, we have trained 780 female students in foreign universities. Then, within the country, 2781 females have been trained in Nigerian universities. In vocational training, we have trained over 1389 women in vocational training. Some of them are doing well. In empowerment, so far, the office has empowered 1280 women.

“But this is my time, we have to do it together, I mean we have to have more women on board because this is what Mr. President wants,” he said.

Speaking, woman leader and rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, while noting that women were not consulted in the past in the amnesty programme, expressed joy that “women are now recognised as part of this process.”

During an interactive session with the PAP boss, the women appealed that grants should be given to them to start or advance their businesses, and that resource centres where youths and women can learn skills should be established in major Niger Delta communities.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

40 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.