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25 NGOs, CSOs jettison protest after town hall meeting with Speaker Abbas

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

25 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called off their planned protest after attending a youth town hall meeting hosted by the House of Representatives.

Dr. Matthew Nabut, Executive Director of Centre for Change and Democracy Studies, said on behalf of the NGOs in a statement in Abuja on Thursday after the town hall meeting with the speaker.

The meeting, which was held on July 31, provided a platform for open dialogue and led to a resolution after productive interactions with Speaker Tajudeen Abass.

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Following the meeting, Nabut the spokesperson for the coalition of NGOs and CSOs, expressed their satisfaction with the outcome.

“We came here prepared to protest because we felt our voices were not being heard.

“However, after engaging with Speaker Abass and seeing the sincerity in his approach, we believe that dialogue is the way forward.

“We have decided to cancel the planned protest and give the government the opportunity to act on their promises,” the spokesperson said.

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He said the protest was initially scheduled in response to what the NGOs and CSOs perceived as government inaction on critical issues affecting the youth.

He said that the decision to organise the protest was made after several attempts to engage with policymakers yielded unsatisfactory results.

According to him, the youth town hall meeting was therefore seen as a last-ditch effort to avert the protest and find common ground.

The town hall meeting, which was convened to address the grievances and demands of various youth-led organisations, saw robust participation from diverse groups across the country.

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The agenda included discussions on pressing socio-economic issues, government policies, and the role of youth in national development.

The speaker known for his advocacy for inclusive governance, engaged directly with the representatives of the NGOs and CSOs.

He emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing their concerns and highlighted ongoing and future initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the youth.

Abass stated, “This government recognises the critical role that our youth play in shaping the future of our nation.We are dedicated to creating an environment where their voices are heard, and their contributions are valued.

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He said that the purpose of this town hall meeting was to ensure that the government understood their concerns and work together towards sustainable solutions.

The interactive session allowed the youth representatives to voice their frustrations and aspirations candidly.

Key topics of discussion included employment opportunities, education reforms, security, and the need for transparency in governance.

The Speaker assured the attendees that their input would be integral to policy formulation and implementation.

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Responding to the cancellation, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Reps, Rep. Philip Agbese commended the speaker’s initiative, describing it as a masterstroke.

He said that as the Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee and Plenary, the speaker took engagement to another level, which allowed all aggrieved persons to hear their mind and together resolved the issues.

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Trump set to sign Executive Order to flush out transgender personnel from US military

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President-elect, Donald Trump, is set to sign an executive order that would remove all transgender members from the United States military.

It was learnt that the development has intensified concerns within the LGBTQ+ community.

The report claimed that the state officials had stated that transgender personnel would be discharged on medical grounds, deeming them “unfit” to serve.

Recall that during Trump’s first term as president, he introduced a similar policy that prohibited transgender individuals from joining the armed forces while allowing those already enlisted to remain in their roles.

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After Trump left office, President Joe Biden had overturned the military ban in his first week as president in 2021, issuing an executive order to restore transgender individuals’ right to serve openly. However, with Trump’s potential return to the White House, transgender rights in the US may face renewed challenges.

However, the current proposal, as reported, would extend to removing all transgender service members, regardless of their current status. It is anticipated that the executive order will be issued on Trump’s first day in office, January 20 next year.

If signed, Trump’s new directive could be broader and more contentious than the policy he implemented during his first term. What would be its impact on transgender personnel serving in US military.

Reports indicated that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals are actively serving in the US military.

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This is coming amid moves by US congress to stop irst transgender lawmaker from using female restrooms and bathrooms in her new workplace.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed his support for the policy that tends to disregard transgender ideologies in the legislative arm.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the speaker said in a statement last Wednesday.

“It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

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The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

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The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

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PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder

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Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently

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Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters

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The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.

The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.

It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.

According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.

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“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”

The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.

Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members

Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS

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All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.

They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.

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