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Femi Falana Urges Nigerians To Demand Accountability From Leaders

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Femi Falana Urges Nigerians

Femi Falana Urges Nigerians To Demand Accountability From Leaders

Femi Falana urges Nigerians to demand accountability from leaders. He called on Nigerians to support one another, stressing that “injustice to one is injustice to all.”

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their leaders. He decried the prevailing “rule of rulers” instead of the rule of law.

Mr Falana stated this at the 4th Anniversary of the late Yinka Odumakin Lecture, organised by the Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation on Wednesday in Lagos.

The lecture’s theme was ‘Selflessness in Leadership: The Yinka Odumakin Example.’ Mr Falana stressed that leaders must be held accountable for their actions.

Nigerians, he said , should start asking questions and demanding transparency.
He also encouraged Nigerians to request a copy of their local government’s budget.

Mr Falana said the people should ensure senators and House of Representatives members are held accountable for their constituency budgets. He reiterated the importance of questioning leaders and demanding accountability.

“They must ensure the implementation of their budgets. We must begin with the appropriation of state budgets. Let us demand a copy of the budget and seek accountability. “Find out how your local government spends its money. They must implement the budget.

“We must hold them accountable to serve the people. Nigerians need to ask questions,” he said. Mr Falana also criticised what he called the  “rule of rulers” rather than the “rule of law.” According to him, the rule of law means everyone is bound by the law and treated equally.

Mr Falana also condemned the Lagos State government for allegedly demolishing homes of the poor without approval, while allowing the rich to bypass similar laws.

“The government is demolishing houses occupied by the poor. But when the rich, including those in Banana Island, do the same, the government ratifies the law,” he claimed.
He called on Nigerians to support one another, stressing that “injustice to one is injustice to all.”

Mr Falana urged Nigerians to hold the government accountable, which he believes is the true way to honour Yinka Odumakin. He described Mr Odumakin as a consistent and courageous advocate for democracy.

“The philosophy of Afenifere, which Yinka upheld, includes education for all, access to healthcare, and full employment.

“For the foundation to remain relevant, this philosophy must be sustained,” he said. Earlier, in his goodwill message, Gani Adams, factional leader of the outlawed Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) , urged the human rights community to continue fighting for democracy.

Mr Adams advised them not to compromise in the interest of the people.
“We must continue what Yinka Odumakin fought for and believed in. “There is a need for pro-democracy activists to focus on reshaping and sustaining democracy in the country,” he added.

Omowole Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) 2023 presidential candidate, described Mr Odumakin as a fearless and courageous activist.
“Yinka always spoke the truth, regardless of whose ox was gored,” he said.

Femi Falana Urges Nigerians

Femi Falana Urges Nigerians

Dr Joe Odumakin, president of Women Arise for Change Initiative, highlighted the importance of equality and justice for all. “The rule of law must be respected by everyone,” she said.

“Nigeria is our country. We must insist on doing things right and ensuring that injustice to one is injustice to all,” she added.

The widow, who is also President of the Foundation, pledged to rededicate herself to the ideals her late husband stood for.
Mr Odumakin passed away on April 2, 2021, during a brief illness.

Dignitaries at the event included Jimi Agbaje, former governorship candidate in Lagos State, and activist, Olamide Fusika (SAN).
Other attendees included veteran journalist,  Richard Akinnola, and Edmond Obilo.

Economy

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

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Obaseki

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.

He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.

Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.

Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.

‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’

Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.

“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.

“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”

He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.

“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.

Obaseki

Obaseki

“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.

“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”

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Economy

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

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Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.

He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”

Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.

“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.

“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.

Teachers Register For Special Training

Teachers Register For Special Training

He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.

“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.

He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.

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Economy

PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

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Leadway Pensure

PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

PFA: Leadway pensure leverages innovations for quality service delivery. A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Leadway Pensure said, it is leveraging innovation to escalate quality

service delivery to its retirement savings account (RSA) holders. This milestone marks 20 years of trust, exceptional service delivery, and value creation as it celebrates its anniversary. It highlights two decades of dedication to protecting the financial wellness of Nigerian workers.

Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.

Speaking on this remarkable achievement, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, stated that: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation.

From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriersOver two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a nationwide presence, a robust mobile platform, and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have made pension services accessible to eligible Nigerians.

“We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds. ”

Leadway Pensure

Leadway Pensure

Looking ahead, the company said, it is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey.

“The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.

As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.

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