Business

Saraki’s Death, Nigeria’s Loss: Dame Jonathan, PDP, Others Mourn …House Adjourns For 8 Days

Published

14 years ago

November 16, 2012

The dearth on Wednesday of Second Republic Senate Leader and strongman of Kwara State politics, Dr Olusola Saraki, has continued to cause disquiet across the country as Nigerians from all walks of life pay their last respect to a great political leader who combined patriotism with philanthropy.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi commiserated with the Saraki’s family and the people of Kwara State on the death of their father and political leader.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr David Iyofor, Governor Amaechi said the death of Saraki was a huge loss to the nation.

Amaechi described the late Saraki as a political giant with great values whose commitment to nation building and the development of Kwara State was great.

He said, “the late Saraki was an astute politician and great leader. He contributed to the political development of Nigeria. On behalf of my family, the government and people of Rivers State, I condole with my friend, Dr Bukola Saraki, the Saraki family and Kwara State indigenes as they go through this sad time. “We pray for the repose of his soul and urge the Saraki family to take heart and stay strong in unity as they mourn the passing away of this great man.”

Also, wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, described the death of Sen. Olusola Saraki as a great loss to the political class. According to a statement signed by Mr Ayo Osinlu, the Special Assistant (Media) to the First Lady.

“Dr Olusola Saraki’s death is a loss not only to the people of Ikwerre, which he faithfully served for decades, but the entire nation, especially the political class. His death came as a rude shock and becomes more painful with reference to his invaluable wisdom which is obviously required in the urgent efforts to re-engineer the development process of our great country. “It is also worthy to note the dedication, courage and deep focus of Dr Olusola Saraki, especially his personal accomplishments as a professional, businessman, community leader and politician,” the statement added.

The First Lady also recalled Saraki’s “lofty place in the political evolution of our dear country, especially in the Second Republic during which he shone brilliantly as Leader of the Senate”.

She commiserated with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Senator Bukola Saraki and his siblings, and prayed God to give the entire family the strength to bear the loss.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), said the death of Dr Olusola Saraki is like the gradual extinction of the “last of the Mohicans”.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, “Nigeria has lost a political guru and a titan who compared in every respect with the generation of the independent Nigerian leaders.”

He described the deceased as a fine medical doctor, philanthropist, humanist and an astute politician.

Metuh called Saraki “a game changer and a man who changed the destiny of his people like the great Zik of Africa, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.”

He said that the PDP was saddened by the death of Saraki, describing the development as a huge loss to the nation.

Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, described the late Dr Olusola Saraki as a bridge builder and a detribalised Nigerian, who contributed immensely to the development of the country.

“I have no doubt that many Nigerians irrespective of class, creed and community also feel a sense of loss,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kwara House of Assembly has adjourned sitting for eight days in honour of late Dr Olusola Saraki.

The Speaker of the House, Hon Rasaq Atunwa, announced the adjournment at the plenary session, Wednesday, after announcing the demise of Saraki.

Atunwa, who ordered the suspension of all matters in the order paper for Wednesday, described the death of Saraki as “a rude shock”.

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

7 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.