NIGERIANS SHOULD IMMORTALISE BABA OMOJOLA

To immortalize the late Human Right Activist, Comrade Oluwide Omojola, the general public need to continue the advocacy for the emancipation and liberation of the people which he lived his life for. This was the submission of the spokesperson for the PRO- National Conference Organization (PRONACO), Veteran Olawale Okunniyi at the service of songs and tributes held in respect of Baba Omojola at Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Surulere. He described Com Omojola as a selfless leader who believed in breaching the gap between the poor and the rich and said that he never reached a compromise while alive and died fighting for what he believed in.

In the same vein, the President Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin said Baba Omojola believed in the Nigeria that works, and fought towards achieving a just society. She spoke further that Baba Omojola  could be said to have lived a fulfilled life with the fact that he died in the struggle and working towards the attainment of his ideologies and visions. She encouraged young comrades to keep the tempo of Baba Omojola moving. She also made her firm believe known about the fact that Nigerians will soon realise  that they should stand for their rights and demand for it.

Speaking from Baba Omojola's socialist ideology, Barr Femi Aborisade made a call to the Nigerian citizens not be satisfied with the economic ideology being practised in Nigeria, instead they should work towards achieving an egalitarian society.

The funeral programme which took place from Monday through Friday, with various programmes on each day, witnessed the presence of Governors, Human Right and Political Activists, Religionists and different Activist group across the Nation. With this, Baba Omojola could be said not to be limited to fighting for the Yorubas as many people opined, but a man of all people, an internationalist.

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS, INFORMAL WORKERS URGED

Comrade Gbenga Komolafe
Secretary General, FIWON

People working in the informal sector of the economy have been urged to fight for their rights. This was done by speakers at the Quarterly Workshop of the Lagos State Chapter of the Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON) held on Wednesday in Iyana Ipaja. 

All speakers at the workshop including Comrade Abiodun Aremu (Secretary, Joint Action Front), Barrister Adesina Ogunlana (Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch), Professor Princewill Alozie (LASU), Dr. Adeolu Olusodo (Society for Love &Social Justice) and Comrade Gbenga Komolafe (Secretary General, FIWON) all stated that rights are not given to people but are demanded and fought for by the people.

The informal sector represents over 80% of the working force and contributes 65% to the Gross Domestic Product of the country. In the lead paper, Decent work deficits in the informal economy in Nigeria: The Human Right angle, Comrade Gbenga Komolafe highlighted the many securities that are lacking in the informal sector which affects the lives of those working in the sector. He faulted the move of Lagos State Government to form a body for people in the informal sector stating that informal workers have the right to form and run their own organisations.

In their submissions, both Prof. Alozie and Dr. Adeolu Olusodo called on people in the informal sector to put their destinies in their hands by taking active part in the political process, as they organise themselves to protect their interests. Prof. Alozie was emphatic in his call to Nigerians to shun the existing ruling parties and tirelessly work towards building a true masses party to take power from those ruling with impunity now.

Comrade Abiodun Aremu singled out the persistent desire to entrench cheating of others by those ruling as the cause of conflict in the society. He traced the origin of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the continuos struggle of slaves and workers in the past. He called on Nigerians to fight for political rights even in the face of death.

The workshop had in attendance workers from many parts of the informal sector with their leaders visibly present. This is the second workshop to the organised by the Lagos Chapter of FIWON.

JONATHAN HAS PERFORMED MORE THAN PAST PRESIDENTS - Information Minister

"Contrary to what people have been saying, that the present administration in Nigeria have not done anything so far, no government in recent years have performed effectively like Goodluck Jonathan's."

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku made this known today while addressing the press on achievements recorded so far in economy and power sector at the monthly world press conference held in Abuja.

The minister further stated that Goodluck Jonathan is a performing president who has helped rapidly to develop the agricultural sector, restore railway transportation, growing the capital market, building the economy sector among others.

Speaking on the economy sector, Mr. Labaran Maku who said that "Nigeria is not broke, our economy is robust", also hinted that there are various developmental projects going on in the country. He explained further that political issues are reported in the media more than developmental issues which make Nigerians to be less informed about developmental projects that have been embarked upon by the Jonathan administration. He therefore advised Journalists to focus more on developmental projects reportage which will help Nigerians to make well meaning decisions.

According to the Minister, with the recent privatization in the power sector, stable electricity is on the way and the economy will be boosted. He encouraged Nigerians to be patient, now that the power plants have not been handed over to the private companies.

On the proposed National Conference, Mr. Labaran Maku said it came out of the agitation of the people to reform the federation, discuss the management of revenue and allocation of resources, among many other bothering issues.

He butressed further that "it is not a way of dividing Nigeria as many people opines, but an avenue to discuss our problems so that our country can become stronger."

GIRL CHILD- THE FUTURE OF A NATION

In most developing countries including Nigeria, women’s literacy rates are significantly lower than men’s. In Northern Nigeria in particular, the gender gap remains particularly wide.

This assertion was made by the president of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Josephine Okei-Odumakin at the 2nd Annual International Day of the Girl Child commemorated by Hacey’s Health Initiative at the Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State.

While discussing the theme of the programme; “Education as a Catalyst in Promoting the Health, Education, Empowerment, and Rights of the Girl Child”, Dr. Odumakin said that when you educate a girl you educate the nation, because a nation is produced through a girl.

Dr. Odumakin spoke further that the right to education is universal, therefore every girl child should not be deprived of it. Also, a girl child should not be seen as being inferior to a boy child.

In her keynote address, the Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye duly represented by Mrs A.K. Musa, said that education is a tool for empowering a girl child. Adding that the education given to a girl child can help to build the child which can also help to determine the development of the nation.

Speaking from the medical angle, Dr. Dizzie said that when a girl child is educated for 6years or more, as an adult her parental care, post natal care and child birth survival rates will dramatically and consistently improve considerably.

Dr. Dizzie ended on the note that, education is not a mortgage, neither is it a luxury or business, it is the right of a girl child.

In her contribution, Miss Yemisi Ransone Kuti encouraged every girl child to be focused and ignore all the physical, mental, psychological, or religion barriers that may want to hinder them from achieving their goals but instead they should take the responsibility of who and what they want to become.

As their own contribution to advocate for the right of every girl child, presentations regarding the rights of girl child were done by various schools and individuals across Lagos State.

It is therefore hoped that every stakeholder in the society, particularly the government must consider our collective prosperity as a nation by encouraging a mandatory education of the girl child which is a key ingredient to the Socio Economic prosperity of any given society.

SOCIETY UNVEILS FREE DRUGS PROGRAMME

The major problem facing our society is the lack of love towards one another, and this has to a large extent deprived the society of achieving great things.
This was made known by Dr. Adeolu Olusodo during the briefing and registration for Free Hypertension and Diabetes Drugs Programme, organized by The Society for Love and Social Justice in Ebute-Metta, Lagos today.

Dr. Olusodo who said that our society can be a better one if people show love to one another, hinted that The Society for Love and Social Justice was established to teach people about love, how to express it to others and to advocate for Social Justice.

He added that the free Hypertension and Diabetes Drugs Programme is meant for those that are above 60years who suffer strictly from hypertension and/or diabetes.
It was also noted that beneficiaries should not focus on collecting drugs as the only benefit from the society but to also be present at lectures where they will learn how to live a healthy life.

Dr. Olusodo acknowledged the Stars Clinic for providing their staff as a support to the programme and urge registered elders to come on Tuesdays and Fridays for consultation and collection of drugs.

The Society for Love & Social Justice intend to register fifty elderly people for the programme.

GOVERNMENT YET TO TOUCH LAGOS URBAN PROBLEMS

A lawyer with the Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC), Barrister Emmanuel Nwaghodoh, said that the Lagos State government is only scratching on the surface the urban problems facing the state.

He stated this today at a rally organised by the organisation in conjunction with Lagos Marginalised Communities Forum to mark the 2013 World Habitat Day. Speaking further, he said that a huge sum of amount will be needed to make urban mobility effective in Lagos considering the way the government is approaching urban renewal issues.

The rally and clean up exercise was meant to enlighten people on the need for them to live in a clean and healthy environment.

Partakers in the rally with the support of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) engaged in cleaning the streets and drainages along the route of the rally which took off from Church Street, Railway Line in Badiya East passing through Sari-Iganmu, Badiya West, Apapa Iganmu before terminating at Badiya.

In his speech, the Advocacy Co-ordinator, LAWMA, Mr. Sunmola Jamiu, advised people to always pack their dirt and dispose it properly. He further stated that most of the waste are recyclable, and anyone who have the recyclable waste at his disposal could sell it to LAWMA, instead of littering the whole environment with dirt.

The Chairman, LAMCOFOR, Mr. Yemi Ogunyemi showed his appreciation to those that partook in the rally and clean up exercise.

The World Habitat Day is celebrated every first Monday in October every year, and this year’s theme is “Urban Mobility”.

FLOATING OF THE LOVE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SOCIETY ANNOUNCED

Dr. Adeolu Olusodo

The setting up of The Love and Social Justice Society was made public today by its Promoter, Dr. Adeolu Olusodo, at the October 1st Declaration in Lagos.

He pronounced that the motto of the society shall be "healing the world" and stated that the society will be used for the effective education and enlightenment of Nigerians on the need for social justice as well as empowering them to demand for it in a legitimate way. 

He stated further that the ultimate goal is to fill Nigerians with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare so that social justice can be attained. 

From his declaration speech it can be deduced that the society will be a platform for assisting the poor and the needy in taking care of their health needs amongst others.

The programme was well attended and had in attendance members of the Lagos Marginalized Communities Forum, Slumdweller De Great Agbodemu, Akinlade Babafemi, Hassan Ganiyu Ayodeji amongst others.

THE WORLD OF HOMELESS NIGERIANS LIVING ON BAR BEACH

Pastor Olaitan with his collapsible home
at the Bar Beach

Shelter and food which Abraham Maslow’s theory on hierarchy of needs put as basic necessities of man are no longer obtainable in our environment as many Nigerians lack these basic needs.

A visit to the bar beach, which was known for his throng in the 80’s and 90’s but now a shadow of itself due to re-current overflow of its shores, reveals the presence of many homeless people who live under tarpaulin and old big umbrellas.

A person may be tempted to think that they came from elsewhere, but a chat with them revealed that they were displaced from a nearby community in 2008 when government demolished their houses and places of worship.

Though the number of people living on the beach after demolition has reduced due to constant arrest and prosecution at mobile courts of Lagos State Tax Force on Environmental Sanitation, yet there are over two hundred.

It is disheartening that some live under umbrella and tarpaulin with their children who attend schools at Bonny camp and other barracks. They get water from the school of oceanography which is within the area.

Living close to the ocean and under harsh weather will definitely expose them to certain illnesses, but they don’t have access to any health care facility neither could they afford to go for treatment in the nearby private hospitals in Victoria Island.

Considering the state of living of the displaced people on the beach, it will be good for government, individuals and Non-governmental Organizations to provide assistance for the people. Government can help to provide accommodation for them while individuals can provide prepared food and other essential materials on regular basis.

If you are interested in assisting the displaced people living on the beach, you can contact Slumdweller Liberation Forum (SLF) c/o Slumdweller De Great Agbodemu on 08077565466, 08026754374, 08096324693 or slumdwelleragbodemu@gmail.com

FIWON PROPOSED A BILL ON SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Comrade Gbenga Komolafe
Executive Secretary FIWON

The Nigeria Social Assistance Bill as proposed by the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON) has been sent to the National Assembly for consideration and enactment into law.

The bill when passed into law is meant to provide a system of welfare assistance including free health care and payment of welfare grants to indigent senior citizens, disabled citizens and indigent pregnant women and thereby achieving a minimum standard of living.

As identified by FIWON, the bill will be an effective tool to reduce poverty, destitution and vulnerability suffered by the disabled, the aged and indigent pregnant women, thereby assisting in human capital development.

While speaking on the Nigeria Social Assistance Bill, the Executive Secretary of FIWON, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe said the major goal of the bill is to produce social assistance for vulnerable persons. He stated further that the bill will be beneficial to the society at large and not only to the old aged, disabled and pregnant women.

In response to the proposed bill, the National Assembly through the office of the President said that the bill will be studied and forwarded to the appropriate committee for further actions.

Hopefully, when the bill is enacted into law, Nigeria can join the Comity of Nations where citizens are ensured of living quality lifestyles irrespective of social or physical challenges.