THE National Assembly has postponed its resumption date for plenary sessions by two weeks. The postponement was announced in a statement Friday by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Ojo Olatunde Amos. According to him, the earlier date of resumption by the lawmakers which was scheduled for Tuesday, 15th September is now shifted to 29th September 2020. The Statement read, ” This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly that the resumption of plenary sessions earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 15th September 2020 is hereby rescheduled for Tuesday 29th September 2020. ” We regret any inconvenience caused by this change of date. Thank you.” It was gathered that the postponement may not be unconnected with the September 19 Edo State Governorship election to enable Lawmakers participate fully.

…..I Will Make Edo The Dubai Of Nigeria – ZLP’s Akhalame ……If Elected, Nobody Will Have To Leave Edo State For Treatment – AMP Candidate Ibe Pascal Arogorn Five candidates vying for the Edo Governorship seat on Friday pitched their plans for the state in a debate organised by Channels Television. The candidates were Iboi Emmanuel of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Igbineweka Osamuede of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Agol Tracy of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Jones Osajiobare of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Bishop Akhalame of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The debate was held in Benin-city ahead of the election, which is scheduled to hold on September 19. DIG, AIG, Eight CPs Deployed For Edo Election The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has deployed top police officers for the Edo State governorship election on September 19. Those deployed include the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adeleye Olusola Oyabade; an Assistant Inspector General of police, Karma Hosea Hassan, and eight other commissioners of police. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba. Oyebade, who will be assisted by Hassan, will superintend over the entire security architecture and ensure effective monitoring of the election and due enforcement of all electoral laws in the State. “The DIG, with the assistance of the AIG, will superintend over the entire security architecture and ensure effective monitoring of the election and due enforcement of all electoral laws in the State. “Other senior Police Officers similarly involved (in election monitoring and evaluation) include: CP Garba Baba Umar, CP Habu Sani and CP Buba Sanusi. CP Akeera M. Yonous will coordinate the operations of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other special strike forces. “The other four (4) CPs will supervise security arrangement in the three senatorial districts of the State. “They are: CP Omololu .S. Bishi and CP Abutu Yaro Edo North senatorial district, CP Philip Aliyu Ogbadu Edo Central Senatorial District and CP Olokade T. Olawale, Edo South Senatorial District,” the statement partly read. IGP bars security aides from accompanying VIPs, Political appointees Meanwhile the Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu has barred security aides from accompanying VIPs and political appointees during the Sept. 19 governorship election in Edo. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He said the I-G had warned that anyone who flouted the order would be severely reprimanded. Mba said the I-G had also deployed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Research and Planning, Mr Adeleye Oyabade to supervise the general security arrangement for the election. “He the DIG will be assisted by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Federal Operations, Mr Karma Hassan and eight other commissioners of Police. The DIG, with the assistance of the AIG, will superintend over the entire security architecture and ensure effective monitoring of the election and due enforcement of all electoral laws during the election,” he said. He said the arrangement was in line with efforts of the police at ensuring apt coordination of security arrangements towards a hitch free election in the state. The FPRO said the I-G had charged officers and men on election duties in the state to ensure they work in line with standard best practices and adhere strictly with the approved Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for the elections. He said the I-G called on members of the public, particularly politicians, gubernatorial candidates and other relevant stakeholders in the state to cooperate with the police and other security agencies. He said the call was to assist the security agencies to perform their patriotic task of guaranteeing a hitch free governorship poll in the state. YPP Candidate Promises To Employ 1,800 People Within Three Months The candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the Edo Governorship election, Jones Osagiobare says he will employ 1,800 people within three months if elected leader of the South-South State. Osagiobare’s comment came as a response to a question about his plans to tackle unemployment in Edo State. The governorship candidate of the YPP believes without security, there will be no investment. The candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the Edo Governorship election, Jones Osagiobare says he will employ 1,800 people within three months if elected leader of the South-South State. Osagiobare’s comment came as a response to a question about his plans to tackle unemployment in Edo State. “When the YPP is voted into government, for the first three months, we shall give jobs to 1,800 people,” Osagiobare disclosed on Friday during the Edo State Governorship election debate series organised by Channels Television. “From every local government, we will select able-bodied people; 100, to form the security outfit of this state.” The YPP candidate explained that those who will be employed will be absorbed into the local vigilante groups in existence across the state. He equally gave an insight into how the said persons will be recruited and disclosed that 100 persons will be employed from each of the eighteen local governments in the state and will be trained by the Police. “We will pay them from security votes that is given to the government on a monthly basis,” the 52-year-old businessman added. To further manage the activities of vigilante groups, Mr Osagiobare said he will set up the Edo State Security Management Agency if elected as governor. “I will, immediately within the first 30 days, set up the Edo State Security Management Agency,” Osagiobare who hails from Ikpoba Okha said. “This agency will be responsible for the activities of vigilantes within the state under one platform”. The planned agency, he said, will also check criminality, thuggery and curb all forms of violence “and indiscipline and return the state to where it belongs,” adding that the “agency will be responsible for the payment of salaries for the vigilantes. ” According to him, tackling

Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, says the hike in prices of food items should be seen as a transient situation. Speaking on Thursday during the national food security council meeting, held at the State House, Abuja, Mr. Gambari said the recent prices of grains show a significant decline which suggests that the decrease would soon be reflected across the country as new products are brought into the market. He said, “Yesterday, my office as the secretariat, National Food Security Council, met with the agricultural commodity association to ascertain the root causes of the recent spike in food prices and craft mitigating strategies to what could be a potential crisis. “Although various concerns were raised on the root cause of the increase in commodity cost, we have been informed that prices are actually on the decline as new grains have been introduced to the market. “For example, new maize which was previously sold for N25,000 per bag is now being sold between N12,000 and N17,000, and it’s expected to fall between N7,000 and N8,000 per bag by November 2020, according to the various leaders of the agricultural commodity association. The price decline has also been experienced in millet, beans, and sorghum. The hike, therefore, is to be seen as a transient situation. “With Mr. President being among us, as somebody who knows about farming and agriculture perhaps more than many of us in the room, we believe his presence is very instructive in addressing not just this hike and transient nature and pricing of foodstuff, but also to underscore the importance he personally and as Mr. President and his administration attaches to the issue of national food security. “However, it is important to note that the most prevailing concern of the various leaders of the agricultural commodity association, was their demand that there should be better coordination, synergy, and cooperation across the sector. This has largely accounted for the gross misinformation and nationwide speculation which is being experienced. “Not disregarding the impact of other value triggers such as the cyclical off-season period phenomenon, the COVID-19 pandemic, and infrastructure challenges, the importance of collaboration can still not be overemphasized.” The diplomat said it is time that the nation pivots its attention and resources to how it can improve yield per hectare, even as key actors in the agric space are championing increased hectares under cultivation. According to him, this new shift will be a significant boost in the government’s determination to strengthen its objective in achieving food security.