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We Owe No Workers Salaries-Edo Govt
By Monday EBALU, Benin City
Edo state government has reiterated that no workers in the state is owned salary, saying that December salary was paid before Christmas day.
Reacting to the coalitions of tertiary institutions workers who protested round some major streets in Benin demanding for their five months salaries owned them by the Edo State Government, the state commissioner for Education, Gideon Obakhan said the state government does not owe any of its works force, including workers of the state owned tertiary institutions.
Gideon Obakhan said yesterday while interacting with some journalists on the issues said Edo state government is the few state in Nigeria today that have been able to pay salaries.
“The issue with the coalition of tertiary institutions union is between them and their management. Every month the state government gives subvention to these institutions and they are expected to also generate revenue internally to be able to runs the schools.
“I think it is either misunderstandings of how these institutions are run on the part of the coalitions or people are just trying to be mischievous.
“It is untrue that the ministry have not wadded into the crisis between the union and their management. We have series of meetings in my office where they appeal for support and bailout and in December last year, close to the Christmas period, the governor, in order to reduce the pressure on the workers who were saying the schools have not paid them, approved a bailout for them which was paid to the institutions.
“I have received messages from these institutions that they have received same and have also paid their workers.
“Like I said earlier, their agitation could be due to the misunderstanding on how the processes works or people just want to be mischievous for political reasons.
“Says they (coalition) have raised several issues which are largely internal to them and we have sent messages to their management in that regards and awaits responses from them.
“I cannot rely on hear say or act based on what I heard from one party. When I get the responses from management of these institutions, I would decide on the next line of action to take.
According to the commissioner, “How the government operates is that we give subvention to these institutions on a monthly basis depending on their size to support the running of the institutions.”
“One thing I want to state here is that these schools are largely autonomous. For instance, AAU get a subvention of about N254 m, USEN get something of about N25m.
“What they are expected to do with the fund is to run the schools which involves the payment of salaries, provision of facilities, although they also get support from TETFUND. Government provide some counterpart funding to run this.
“These institutions are also to generate revenue internally through school fees, and other legal means. This is expected to be argument to the subvention in the running of the schools.
“Payment of salaries is solely their responsibility. They decide the number of lecturers and administrative staff they employ. The prudence of how these funds are expended rest with the management of these schools.
“We do not interfere in the management of these institutions. They decide whether properly staff or whether their internally generated revenue is sufficient to argument what they received as subvention from the government.
“If they decide today to reduce the staff strength to meet up with their financial requirement is entirely up to them. We do not interfere on how with how they pay but we support them through monthly subvention.
“So when this people come out to say government is owing them, it shows their lack of understanding of the processes or being sponsored by opposition.
“But I expect that haven being in the system for so long, they should know how these schools are run.”
Responding to the commissioner comments, the president of the coalitions of tertiary institutions said, “it is not true as I have said several times. We didn’t request for bail out but said they should pay us our salaries. They are owing the Colleges in the coalition between 3-5 months. We embarked on another street protest in December because the state government was still owing us and as I speak with you now, they are still owing us.
“The problem started about two years ago since we started our agitation. At a point they used the trust fund or corporative to pay us. After the first tranches of about N89 million naira they paid in 2014 to bail the school out of the crisis, and they set up an investigative panel and after that it never came out with any other payment. The government is owing us and we are embarrassed.”
News
Dangote Refinery, national asset every Nigerian must defend — BAVCCA President declares
President of the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA), Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has charged Nigerians on the need to protect Dangote Refinery, describing it as a “national asset that every citizen must protect, nurture, and defend against any form of sabotage or doubt.”
Chukwunyere made this declaration on Wednesday at BAVCCA’s National Secretariat in Abuja, following a visit by a 15-man delegation of the association to Dangote Industries in Lagos.
Adding that the visit to the Dangote Refinery was more than a familiarization tour but “a pilgrimage to witness firsthand the embodiment of Nigerian ingenuity, resilience, and vision.”
According to him, the team’s interaction with Dangote Industries’ Vice President, Mr. Edwin Devakumar, provided deep insight into the sacrifices and determination behind what he described as one of Nigeria’s greatest industrial achievements.
While recalling Devakumar’s powerful testimony about believing in Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s vision for the refinery, even when many investors doubted its feasibility.
“Despite the doubts from potential backers, Mr. Devakumar provided crucial support, backing Alhaji Dangote’s dream every step of the way,”
Chukwunyere said. “Alhaji Dangote himself made extraordinary sacrifices, selling most of his assets to fund the project amid those investor doubts.”
He said the refinery, valued at over $20 billion, was “a testament to this unyielding faith” and a model of how personal commitment can turn vision into reality.
Quoting Devakumar, he said Aliko Dangote’s motivation was rooted not only in business ambition but in a “deep prioritization of Nigerians’ well-being.”
“This passion fuels his endeavors, placing the welfare of our people at the heart of every decision,” he added.
The BAVCCA President noted that despite setbacks such as the closure of the Arewa Textile Industry in Kaduna, Dangote “persevered, keeping his vision alive against all odds.”
He described the refinery as the largest in the world, with the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, set to expand to 1.4 million barrels daily. The project, he said, has created over 65,000 jobs, saved billions in foreign exchange, and generated an estimated $55 billion in annual revenue potential.
Chukwunyere also highlighted the achievements of the Dangote Fertilizer Plant, which he said has “an impressive production capacity of 3 million metric tonnes per annum of urea,” positioning Nigeria as a key player in global agriculture.
During the visit, Chukwunyere said he personally expressed appreciation to the Dangote Group on behalf of BAVCCA and recounted the association’s efforts in defending the refinery against social media misinformation.
“We amplified the truth, countered misinformation, and rallied public support to ensure this vital project was not undermined,” he stated.
In response, he said, the Dangote Vice President “expressed his pleasure with the bloggers’ efforts and commended the good work being done by our community.”
The BAVCCA leader also announced that the association’s forthcoming national conference, scheduled for October 31 in Abuja, would highlight “the achievements of the Dangote Refinery, showcase the visionary behind it—Alhaji Dangote—and celebrate the transformative role of such initiatives in Nigeria’s development.”
He emphasized that content creators have a patriotic role to play in defending national investments.
“Dangote Industries is not just about refining petroleum; it’s about refining our nation’s future—creating jobs, boosting our economy, and reducing dependency on imports,” he said. “Every Nigerian—bloggers, vloggers, content creators, citizens—must rise to protect Dangote Industries.”
Chukwunyere reaffirmed BAVCCA’s commitment to “lead this charge, using our platforms to educate, inspire, and unite,” while calling on Nigerians to honor the sacrifices of Alhaji Dangote and the faith of leaders like Devakumar.
“Join us at our conference on 31st October, and let’s build a Nigeria where national assets like Dangote Industries thrive unhindered,” Chukwunyere concluded.
News
Hon. Munira Applauds Governor Uba Sani for Signing Bill Establishing New College in Lere
By: Fabian Apechihin
In a major educational breakthrough for Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani has signed into law a bill establishing the Kaduna State College of Agricultural Technology and Environmental Sciences in Lere Local Government Area.
The landmark bill was sponsored by Hon. Munira Suleiman Tanimu, the member representing Lere East Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The new institution aims to equip young people with modern skills in agriculture, technology, and environmental management — key areas for the state’s sustainable development.
Expressing her delight, Hon. Munira said:
“I am overjoyed to announce that Governor Uba Sani has signed my bill into law. This college in Lere will empower our youth with practical knowledge in agriculture and environmental protection. It will open doors to innovation and help our communities thrive.”
She noted that the college will serve as a hub for research and practical training, boosting agricultural productivity and addressing pressing environmental challenges in the region.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of Kaduna’s economy, and this institution will help modernize the sector while creating new opportunities for our young people,” she added.
Hon. Munira also reaffirmed her commitment to effective representation and progressive legislation:
“We will continue to champion laws that make real, positive impacts in people’s lives. The future is bright, and together, we will build a better, stronger Kaduna State.”
She extended her appreciation to Governor Uba Sani for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for education and rural development.
Residents of Lere and across Kaduna have welcomed the development with excitement, describing the new college as a beacon of hope for the youth and a catalyst for growth in the state’s agricultural and environmental sectors.
With the creation of this new college, Kaduna State takes another bold step toward improving education, empowering its citizens, and building a greener, more prosperous future.
News
Soludo’s Alleged Threat to Jail Catholic Clergy After Re-election Sparks Controversy in Anambra
By Fabian Apechihin
A report claiming that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, plans to jail Catholic bishops, priests, and other clergymen after his re-election has stirred heated debate across the state.
However, Rev. Fr. Raphael Onyekwelu, PhD, Chaplain to the Governor, has dismissed the report as “baseless, ridiculous, and malicious,” describing it as the work of desperate political opponents trying to pit Soludo against the Church.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Fr. Onyekwelu said:
“Our attention has been drawn to a fabricated, malicious, and unsigned piece currently circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms, falsely alleging that His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, intends to ‘take on the hierarchy of the Church, especially the Catholic Church,’ after winning the forthcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election.”
He said while such falsehoods would normally be ignored, the campaign season had created fertile ground for misinformation and propaganda.
“This is an election period, and desperate politicians are churning out fake news to deceive the public and cause division. It is laughable that they first admit Soludo is likely to win, and then try to manufacture lies to undermine his relationship with his Church — the Catholic Church,” he stated.
Fr. Onyekwelu noted that the alleged statement did not specify any wrongdoing by the Church to warrant such “imaginary arrests,” calling the entire report “a pitiable fabrication.”
He reaffirmed that Governor Soludo, a devout Catholic, holds the Church in the highest regard and recognizes its crucial role in promoting moral values, education, healthcare, and community development.
“Governor Soludo is a proud and practicing Catholic who cherishes the Church’s partnership in governance and social transformation, in line with Catholic Social Teaching. He deeply appreciates the clergy and their contributions to the moral and socio-economic progress of Anambra State,” he added.
Fr. Onyekwelu emphasized that the governor remains committed to working closely with all religious bodies to advance peace, development, and good governance in the state.
“Under Soludo’s leadership, Anambra continues to experience transparent, people-centered governance anchored on faith, service, and shared values. As the governor often says, ‘Government, Church, and People — together we shall continue to build a peaceful, prosperous, livable, and God-fearing Anambra State,’” he concluded.
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