Connect with us


BIG STORY

Easter: Sanwo-Olu’s Wife Harps On Peaceful Coexistence, Nation Building [PHOTOS]

Published

on

  • Holds Special Easter Family Feast

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Saturday urged Nigerians to see the Easter season as a period to reflect on how to sustain peaceful coexistence in the country and galvanize collective roles in nation-building.

The Governor’s wife, who stated this at the 2023 Family Easter Feast tagged, “Hallelujah, The Lamb of God is Alive Forever, ” noted that the programme is part of the activities by the Office of the First Lady, Lagos State to ensure the season is celebrated in grand style.

” Beyond the celebration, we are encouraged not to lose track of the significance of Easter. We are specifically and categorically admonished to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, and sacrifice for one another, which Jesus Christ demonstrated throughout his period on earth.

“The resurrection of Christ should be a constant reminder for everyone to extend the virtues of selflessness, love, sacrifice, and tolerance.

“This Easter Celebration, coming after the 2023 general elections, presents an opportunity for people to reflect on our individual and collective roles toward promoting and sustaining the foundation of love, peace, and harmony in our dear country, Nigeria.

“Besides, as it is our tradition, the Family Easter Feast also provides a unique platform to pray for our children, admonish them with the word of God, show them love and care, listen to their yearnings and aspirations, and share in their excitement, while also presenting them with amazing gifts to truly make the Easter celebration worthwhile and memorable, ” said the First Lady who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Domestic Affairs, Mrs. Motolani Ladipo.

She also admonished children to be obedient to their parents, eschew all forms of lies, be seriously committed to their education, and most importantly let the fear of God reign supreme in them.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Hon. Abdulwahab Alawiye-King lauded the first family of the state for their dedication to bringing smiles to the faces of Lagos children, particularly the indigent, while spreading the message of love during the commemoration of Easter.

Alawiye-King added: “As we come together to commemorate this special occasion, let us take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Easter, a time of love, sacrifice, hope, renewal, and resurrection. It is a time to come together with loved ones, to give thanks for the blessings in our lives, and to share with those who may be less fortunate.

“Equally, we are celebrating the resilience and perseverance of our pupils, particularly in public schools, who have continued to show dedication to their studies.

“As we gather today, let us take a moment to reflect on the importance of education, particularly for our young people. Our pupils are the future of our state and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that they have access to quality education that prepares them for a bright future.”

He assured that LASUBEB is committed to the aforementioned goals in line with the policy thrust of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, saying the agency will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that pupils in the state receive the best education possible.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Christian Affairs, Rev Bukola Adeleke said it was gratifying that the Family Easter Feast has come to stay as an avenue to positively impact lives and reach out to people, especially children in this special season of love and sacrifice.

In his exhortation, Pastor Segun Olugbenga of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Holy Sanctuary Parish, Lagos urged the children to be more determined to succeed in life like Mary Magdalene who went in search of risen Jesus with Peter and John but succeeded in having an encounter with Jesus because of her perseverance.

There was a drama presentation by the Lagos State Council for Art and Culture and performances by other dance groups.

The children, who were drawn from public and private schools, special needs schools, orphanages, and children of civil servants from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across the state, were also treated to various exciting activities including Train rides, bouncing castles, Merry go round, Obstacle course, Climbers, Swing sets, Paddle boat pool, Race track, Bicycle lane, Bungee jump, Playhouses and pretend play, Video game bar, Easter bunny mascot, Men on stilts, Clown on bicycles and Jugglers, among others.

BIG STORY

President Tinubu Submits Four Tax Reform Bills To National Assembly

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has submitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for their consideration.

In a letter presented during the plenary sessions by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday, the President outlined that the bills align with his administration’s goals.

The proposed legislation includes the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, designed to establish a comprehensive fiscal framework for regulating taxes.

The Tax Administration Bill aims to provide a clear legal structure for managing taxes in Nigeria, reducing disputes and improving efficiency.

Additionally, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service.

The Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill proposes the creation of a tax tribunal and an ombudsman to handle tax-related issues.

Tinubu emphasized that these bills are intended to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal institutions and support the broader development goals of his government.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

BREAKING: Court Bars VIO From Stopping, Impounding, Confiscating Vehicles

Published

on

A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) from stopping vehicles, impounding or confiscating them, and imposing fines on motorists.

Justice Evelyn Maha issued the order in a judgment on fundamental rights enforcement suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, filed by human rights activist Abubakar Marshal.

The judge upheld Marshal’s argument that “no law empowers respondents to stop, impound, confiscate, seize, or impose fines on motorists.”

Justice Maha declared that the respondents, under the control of the Minister of the FCT, are not empowered by any law to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles or impose fines.

She issued an order restraining them from doing so, stating it’s “wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful.”

Additionally, Justice Maha made a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from violating Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property without lawful justification.

 

More to come…

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

NELFUND Fixes BVN Verification Glitch, Urges Students To Reapply For Loans

Published

on

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the resolution of a technical issue that disrupted the BVN (Bank Verification Number) verification process for students applying for loans.

The issue, which began over the weekend and persisted through the public holiday, caused delays for many applicants.

In a statement posted on NELFUND’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, the organization confirmed that the issue had been fully resolved by Tuesday morning. NELFUND advised all affected students to log back into the portal, complete their BVN verification, and proceed with their loan applications.

“Dear Students,

“We have observed that many of you experienced issues with BVN verification while applying for the student loan over the last weekend, including the public holiday.

“We are pleased to inform you that the issue has been addressed and fully resolved as of yesterday morning.

“We kindly advise all affected students to log back into the portal, complete the BVN verification process, and proceed with your loan application,” the statement read in part.

NELFUND also expressed gratitude to students for their patience during the disruption and reassured them that the application process can now continue smoothly without further issues.

The revised Student Loan Act of 2024 was designed to eliminate financial barriers and make education more accessible to all Nigerian students, regardless of their economic background.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) receives its primary funding from a 1% allocation of the total revenues collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service, and Nigerian Customs Service through taxes, levies, and duties.

In August, President Bola Tinubu announced that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had transferred N50 billion in recovered funds to NELFUND, following his directive, to further strengthen the student loan program.

Students from across the country applied for the NELFUND loan, with the top 10 states having the highest number of applicants, in ascending order, being Taraba, Yobe, Adamawa, Oyo, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, Borno, and Kano, which ranks first.

Since the fund disbursement’s rollout, NELFUND has distributed N4.6 billion as tuition support to students in 59 approved tertiary institutions across the country.

This includes N2.5 billion disbursed in August and an additional N2.1 billion disbursed to students in 40 institutions earlier in September.

Furthermore, in August, NELFUND initiated the distribution of N20,000 monthly stipends to beneficiaries, with 20,371 students from six tertiary institutions successfully receiving their July payments.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular