News

SSS3 Student Becomes One-Day Member of House of Representatives

Published

9 months ago

June 20, 2024

editor

By Gabriella Ogbu

Miss Peace Oluwaseyi Oladosu, an SSS 3 student at Favourland College in Igboora, Oyo State, has earned the prestigious opportunity to serve as a one-day member of the House of Representatives. She will meet with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and attend a plenary session at the green chamber when federal parliamentarians return from their current Sallah break.

This unique initiative was made possible by Hon. Adebayo Adepoju, who represents the Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North federal constituencies. As part of her reward, Oladosu, accompanied by her parents, will fly to Abuja and stay in a five-star hotel, experiencing firsthand the workings of the lower house of parliament.

Mr. Hassan Adesodi Olaoniye, Special Advisor on Media and Publicity to the lawmaker, announced this development in a statement on Tuesday. According to Olaoniye, Oladosu triumphed in an intellectual competition organized and sponsored by the federal legislator.

The competition saw a large number of secondary school students from the five major towns in the federal constituency participate. Oladosu, hailing from Idere Town, emerged as the winner, making history as the first-ever One-Day House of Representatives Member from the Ibarapa region of Oyo State.

“The Ibarapa region of Oyo State achieved a historic milestone on Monday, June 17, 2024, by producing its first-ever One-Day House of Representatives Member,” read an excerpt from the release. The initiative, spearheaded by Hon. Adebayo Adepoju, aims to inspire and engage young minds, fostering future legislators from the federal constituency. It also seeks to promote youth-driven projects that were previously overlooked and to cultivate young leaders with an intellectual bent for the advancement of the constituency.

The competition’s grand finale, held at Igboora High School, drew a large crowd, including academics, notable personalities, political officeholders at various levels, religious leaders, and traditional rulers. The event was part of the Ibarapakan Essay Competition, aligning with the celebration of Adepoju’s first year in office.

Finalists were judged on essay writing (competency in writing), spelling bees (accurate spelling and pronunciation), and presentations (oratory ability). The judging panel included Barrister Lekan Awolusi, Senior Legislative Aide to the lawmaker, Dr. Feyisitan Ijimakinwa, and Dr. Chidinma Danjibo from the University of Ibadan.

Oladosu’s victory comes with several benefits, including a day of decision-making for the constituency, free round-trip tickets to Abuja with her parents, and the opportunity to attend a live House of Representatives plenary. She will meet the Speaker of the House of Representatives and sit in the legislator’s official seat, gaining practical knowledge of the legislative process.

Each finalist received N50,000 from Adepoju, who also released a 54-page report detailing his first year in office. The report thanked the people for their support and outlined job opportunities in various federal agencies, numerous constituency projects, bills, motions, social responsibilities, and innovative initiatives within the constituency.

News

Benin, Togo Owe Nigeria $8.84 Million for Power

Published

9 minutes ago

March 25, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Ifeoluwa Odunayo

Benin Republic and Togo have accumulated a debt of $8.84 million for electricity supplied by Nigeria in the last quarter of 2024, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The latest market report from the commission revealed that six international customers paid only $5.21 million out of a total invoice of $14.05 million, reflecting a remittance rate of just 37 percent.

The report identified Paras-SBEE and Paras-CEET in Benin, as well as Transcorp-SBEE and Odukpani-CEET in Togo, as defaulters, while Mainstream-NIGELEC of Niger Republic was the only international customer to fully settle its $2.6 million bill.

On the domestic front, bilateral customers paid N1.25 million out of N1.98 million invoiced, achieving a remittance rate of 63 percent.

However, Ajaokuta Steel and its host community failed to pay their outstanding N1.38 billion.

Meanwhile, electricity distribution companies collected N509.84 billion out of N658.40 billion billed in the same period, recording a collection efficiency of 77 percent, an improvement from the previous quarter.

News

9 Fugitives Nabbed as Kogi Probes Suspicious Jailbreak

Published

12 minutes ago

March 25, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Ifeoluwa Odunayo

Nine of the 12 inmates who escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, have been rearrested as security agencies intensify the hunt for the remaining fugitives.

The early Sunday morning jailbreak on March 23, 2025, has sparked suspicions of internal compromise, prompting a full-scale investigation.

Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, dismissed the escape as suspicious, insisting that the jailbreak theory must be scrutinized.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has tasked the State Security Adviser with collaborating with correctional officials and security agencies to prevent future breaches.

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an audit of the facility and a thorough probe into the incident.

He directed the Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to ensure the swift recapture of the fleeing inmates.

Authorities have reassured residents that security is being reinforced across the state to prevent further threats.

Abuja Reports

Reps Seek Funding for Abuja Traditional Rulers

Published

10 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Ifeoluwa Odunayo

The House of Representatives has pledged to push for better funding and legal recognition for traditional rulers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Area Councils, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi, made this commitment during a meeting with the FCT Traditional Council in Abuja on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Agbedi praised the rulers for their role in maintaining peace, security, and cultural heritage, emphasizing that the committee would advocate for policy changes to ensure financial support.

He noted that lawmakers are considering a possible five percent allocation from Area Council funds to support the traditional institution.

He acknowledged that current laws do not provide direct funding for traditional rulers, but ongoing legislative efforts, including the Area Councils Administration Bill, could address this issue.

Speaking on behalf of the rulers, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa lamented poor funding and the absence of a legal framework to support their operations.

Lawmakers also discussed the marginalization of FCT natives and the lack of proper resettlement plans, vowing to engage further in protecting the interests of traditional institutions in Abuja.