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Senate Grills Minister over N32.4bn Palliative Provisions

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palliative provisions

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Senate, through its Committee on Special Duties, has quizzed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Farouq, over the spending of the N32.4 billion allocated to her office for palliative provisions meant for Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At an interactive session at the Senate floor on Thursday, Senator Ali Ndume expressed regret that the Ministry was not doing enough.

He pointed out, “You are not doing enough as far as poverty eradication in the country is concerned.”

“The modus operandi being adopted by your Ministry cannot in any way help in fixing the country. Humanitarian intervention should be looked at more holistically,” he further said.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Mr Biobarakuma Degi Eremionyo said the handouts being doled out to some Nigerians as palliatives by the Ministry, cannot in any way take them out of the poverty line.

“Giving unemployed people N10,000 or even N20,000 for a month or two cannot help them out of the poverty-related problems facing them.

“The handouts should be channelled into the creation of employment for the unemployed,” he said.

Making a clarification, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Yusuf Yusuf, quickly intervened by telling the members that the interactive session was not on poverty eradication by the Ministry but interventions made by it as palliatives against COVID-19 from the N32.4 billion earmarked for it out of the N500 billion appropriated by the National Assembly last year.

The Minister in her response clarified that only N2.4 billion was released to her Ministry from the N32.4 billion earmarked.

She said the N2.4 billion was expended on the feeding of school pupils and direct monetary interventions made to vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

When the senators asked her to explain how the school pupils were allegedly fed in their various homes, the Minister said, “We drove to some of their homes based on addresses gathered from their schools and also adopted the template of six-person per family and three children in a home.”

She explained further that aside from feeding school pupils at home, other interventions such as rice distributions totalling about 33,000 tonnes, were made to vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 states of the federations.

“We also got a lot of consignments from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for distribution as palliatives during the period under review aside 70,000 metric tonnes of grains, millets, guinea corn and garri released from strategic reserves on the orders of Mr President,” she added.

The Chairman in his closing remarks tasked the minister to ensure the collection of the N30billion balance from the Ministry of Finance and forward to the committee intervention programmes of action it had on the ground for it.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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NECA’s Annual Retreat for Business Managers, Executives Holds April 16

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NECA Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The annual retreat for business managers and executives organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) will take place from April 16 to 18, 2026, at the AAE & T Hotel, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

This year’s edition is themed The Resilient Enterprise, People and Systems: Building and Managing Businesses that Outlive Seasons, Cycles and Crises.

The programme aims to equip leaders with the insights, tools, and networks required to build resilient organisations in an increasingly complex business environment.

It will provide a unique platform for executive-level engagement through high-level conversations, peer learning sessions with experienced leaders, strategy reflection workshops, and curated networking opportunities.

Expected to attend are industry leaders, senior executives, and business managers from across sectors. They will explore strategies for sustaining organisational performance through leadership transitions, economic cycles, regulatory shifts, and market disruptions.

Participants will also benefit from interactive discussions focused on strengthening corporate governance, developing agile leadership capabilities, and building organisational systems that can withstand periods of uncertainty and transformation.

A notice from NECA said the event is open to both members and non-members, with participation fees set at N300,000 for members and N320,000 for non-members. Discounts will also be available for Gold and Silver members, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Interested participants are encouraged to register via the official registration link to secure their place at the retreat, which promises to deliver valuable insights and connections for executives seeking to build enterprises capable of thriving through seasons of change and uncertainty.

The Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, noted that by convening business managers and senior executives in a collaborative learning environment, the association aims to contribute to the development of stronger, future-ready enterprises that can drive economic growth, create jobs, and support national development even in the face of evolving global and local challenges.

He added that the retreat will provide executives with the opportunity to step away from daily operational demands and engage in deeper strategic conversations with peers and industry experts.

“The theme of this year’s retreat speaks directly to the realities businesses face today. Across sectors, organisations are navigating leadership transitions, regulatory shifts, economic pressures, and technological disruption.

“What distinguishes enduring enterprises is their ability to build strong systems, develop capable leaders, and create organisational cultures that can adapt and respond effectively to change,” the NECA chief said.

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Egbin Power Commissions 80 New Staff Housing Units

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Egbin Power 80 New Staff Housing Units

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

In further demonstration of its unwavering commitment to its workforce, Nigeria’s foremost power generation company, Egbin Power Plc, has unveiled 80 new residential housing units for employees within its plant premises in Egbin, Lagos State.

This comprises 40 fully furnished three-bedroom apartments and 40 furnished studio apartments, all designed to contemporary standards.

The units feature modern infrastructure and thoughtfully planned utilities, creating a safe, comfortable, and conducive living environment that supports both employee productivity and family well-being.

This strategic investment underscores the company’s philosophy that a well-supported workforce is fundamental to sustained operational excellence.

The new housing units are part of a holistic strategy to cultivate a stable, motivated, and future-ready workforce.

This strategy extends beyond infrastructure to encompass robust career development and recognition. Over the past three years, Egbin Power has promoted 112 employees across various cadres, reinforcing a culture that rewards merit, performance, and long-term dedication

“At Egbin Power, our people are our most valuable asset. Even amidst the prevailing liquidity and operational realities within the broader power sector, our focus on employee welfare has remained deliberate and consistent.

“This significant expansion of our residential estate is a tangible expression of that commitment.

“It is one of several key initiatives aimed at ensuring our employees feel genuinely supported, allowing them to thrive both personally and professionally,” the chief executive of Egbin Power, Mr Mokhtar Bounour, said.

Initiated in 2025 and completed in January 2026, this project is the latest milestone in Egbin Power’s structured and ongoing approach to enhancing employee welfare. It reflects the energy firm’s dedication to fostering a culture where every team member feels valued, secure, and motivated.

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NGX Group, CSCS, WIMBIZ to Ring Bell for Gender Equality

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Ring Bell for Gender Equality

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Nigerian Exchange Group House in Lagos, the role of capital markets in promoting gender equality will be reemphasised through the closing gong ceremony in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026.

The ceremony is part of the global Ring the Bell for Gender Equality campaign, which mobilises stock exchanges worldwide to expand women’s participation in the economy and advance gender-inclusive practices.

In Nigeria, the NGX Group is partnering with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc and Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) to make it memorable under the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.

Dignitaries expected at the ceremony include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the First Lady of Imo State, Mrs Chioma Uzodimma; the Executive Commissioner for Legal and Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Frana Chukwuogor; foremost actor, Ms Funke Akindele; a Director at the NGX Group, Ms Ojinnika Olaghere; and another staffer of NGX Group, Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdulrahman, alongside board members of NGX Group, regulators, capital market stakeholders, and industry leaders.

NGX Group is joining other exchanges worldwide in sounding the NGX Gong to underscore the importance of inclusive leadership, equal opportunities, and stronger market accountability in advancing gender equality.

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