2023 Budget: Senators, Reps To Receive ₦‎30.2 Billion Severance Allowance

Severance allowances of the 469 members of the National Assembly and their legislative aides will cost the nation N30.17 billion next year.

The sum is a part of the N238.78 billion National Assembly appropriated for itself as contained in the N21.8 trillion 2023 national budget. The National Assembly okayed the Appropriation Bill on Wednesday.

According to the Budget, the Senate will receive N33.27 billion out of the N238.78 billion for members’ salaries and other perks while the House of Representatives will get N52 billion for its members..

A further breakdown of the N238.78 billion shows that the National Assembly Office was allocated N30.49 billion; National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), N10.56 billion; and legislative aides. N16.52 billion.

In addition, the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of the Senate and House of Representatives were allocated N119 million and N143 million respectively.

Other allocations are general services, N11.30 billion; National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). N7.41 billion; Service Wide Vote, N671 million; and Office of retired Clerks and Permanent Secretaries, N1.06 billion.

Furthermore, the Appropriation Committee Departments of the Senate and House are expected to expend N125 million and N165 million respectively next year.

Other expenditure items are the National Assembly Library Building (ongoing project), N4.25 billion; Hosting of Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments (COSAP), N127.5 million; NASS Liabilities, N8.5 billion; NASS E-Library, N255 million and NASS Dashboard, N118.15 million.

Constitution Review has a budget of N850 million; the Completion of the National Assembly Library Complex, N7.5 billion; the completion of NILDS headquarters, is N2.5billion; the Construction of the Assembly’s building is N10 billion, and Public Complaints Commission, is N10.69 billion.

Police kill 21 Kaduna Bandits, Rescue 1,446 Animals and 206 Hostages in 2022

The Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, has stated that in 2022, the Police in Kaduna State neutralised twenty-one (21) bandits and rescued 206 hostages.

He also added that the police recovered around 1,446 animals stolen by bandits from various locations across the state.

At a year-end news conference in the state, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police announced that 49 rifles and firearms had been recovered from criminals.

During the time period under consideration, he said, “780 suspects were apprehended in connection with various offences.”

Yekini Ayoku said that out of the number of people arrested for various crimes, 116 were found guilty.

According to the Commissioner, 17 functioning motorcycles belonging to the robbers were recovered along with 1,359 live ammo.

He added that 15 bags containing dried leaves, perhaps Indian hemp, were recovered from the suspects this year.

Football Legend, Pele Dies at 82

Pele, the Brazil football legend and three-time World Cup winner, has died at the age of 82.He passed away on Thursday. His daughter, Kely Nascimento, confirmed the news on Instagram, writing: "Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace."

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele is widely considered to be football's first global superstar. Pele had been treated for colon cancer, following surgery to remove a tumour in September 2021, and had required regular medical treatment.

After being admitted back into hospital at the end of November to re-evaluate his cancer treatment, he was diagnosed with a respiratory infection before subsequently being moved to palliative care when his body became unresponsive to chemotherapy, Mirror reports.

Doctors and nurses at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo duly made him as comfortable as possible, while his wife, Marcia Aoki, remained by his bedside.

Pele made his international debut at the age of 16 and announced himself to a global audience in 1958, when, still only 17, he scored six goals in four games as Brazil won the World Cup for the first time. He scored twice in a 5-2 final win over Sweden in Stockholm.

He won the World Cup on two more occasions, in 1962 and 1970, when the Brazillian team produced arguably the greatest final performance in the competition's history, defeating Italy 4-1 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico. Pele won the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player.

During the tournament, ex-Manchester City boss Malcolm Allison, working as a TV summariser, asked: "How do you spell Pele?" Counterpart Pat Crerand responded: "Easy: G.O.D."

His 1970 teammate Tostao remarked: "Pele was the greatest – he was simply flawless. And off the pitch he is always smiling and upbeat. You never see him bad-tempered. He loves being Pele.” Sir Bobby Charlton, part of the England side beaten 1-0 in the group stage of that tournament by Brazil, remarked later in life: “I sometimes feel as though football was invented for this magical player.”

Officially, Pele scored 757 goals in 831 games during a glittering career from 1957 to 1977, although his long-time club Santos claim his tally was closer to 1,000.

Ondomind

Gbajabiamila Deceived Us To Call Off Strike ― ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, of deception by asking the union to call off its eight-month-old strike in October with a written promise that the government would, without delay; offset in full the arrears of salaries members were owed.

President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, gave this position on Tuesday in an exclusive interview with Tribune Online when he was asked to reflect on the speaker’s intervention and then vice versa on the current situation of their issues with the Federal Government.

He said ASUU had a soft spot for the speaker and that was why the union engaged him in a discussion as a welcome intervention to resolve the stalemate between it and the Federal Government.

He added that Gbajabiamila even presented a paper signed by him to ASUU leadership indicating the seriousness of the government to pay in full the eight-month salaries its members were owed and also urgently attend to some other matters and specified how to address them.

He said part of these concerns were the peculiarities in the controversial Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) and the involvement of the house committee on budget allocation, among others.

Veteran Nollywood Actor - Sir K dies

Veteran Yoruba actor, Kamal Adebayo, popularly known as Sir Kay, is dead.

The deceased was also the father of skit maker, Abidemi Adebayo, popularly known as Isbae U.

The cause of his death is yet to be disclosed as at the time of filing this report.

Sir Kay is known for using hilarious slang in movies he acted. 

Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, confirmed the actor’s death on Tuesday via his Facebook page.

He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Alhaji Kamal Adebayo (sir Kay). May Allah grant him eternal peace. R.I.P SIR KAY”.

Terrorists Invade Kaduna Community On Christmas Day, Kill Resident, Abduct 45

Terrorists have reportedly killed one person and abducted 45 people in Angwan Aku community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

It was gathered that the attack took place on Sunday morning - Christmas Day, when residents of the community were preparing to go to church to celebrate Christmas.

The terrorists stormed the village in large numbers on motorcycles and were all well-armed.

A resident in the community confirmed to TheCable, “They came around 10am on Sunday when people were preparing to go to church. There were many and they parked their motorcycles on a bush path before they entered the village, shooting sporadically.

“They went from house to house, kidnapping people. They killed one person and went with 53 people, but seven people escaped and came back.

“So, 45 people are with them,” he added.

The community is said to be far from Mararaban Kajuru, which is home to an army base.

The Kaduna police command's spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige, said he was unaware of the incident at the time of filing this report.

He did, however, say he would provide more information once the attack was confirmed.

ANYC Endorses Isaac Balami for PETER OBI DG

OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT FOR ISAAC BALAMI AS THE NEW DG FOR PCC

In a press conference on the 26th of December, 2022, the Afenifere National Youth Council (ANYC) and 48 formidable Yoruba Youth Groups in a coalition in the South West has stated their official endorsment for Isaac Balami as a replacement for Dr. Doyin Okupe as the DG of PCC.

His personality is convincing and he is a bridge between the young and old. He understands the terrain and speaks the language.

His credibility in the north is bankable as a block vote for the ObiDatti mandate. Well exposed and articulate 

He has the support and confidence of the youth and we are ready to work with him. We are convinced of his delivery based on what he has achieved and can deliver on.

We join our voice to assert that on his mandate we stand. Let's give him the job and get the job going.

Courtesy: Yoruba Youth Wing Coalition YYWC, led by Afenifere National Youth Council (the Apex sociocultural youth organization in Yoruba Land)