Former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke in Lagos during a lecture titled, ‘Social responsibility in nation building,’ which he delivered at the 78th anniversary of Island Club.

He said, “I have said it before and I will say it again. Nigeria should have state police in all the states so that they can adequately tackle insecurity. Guaranteeing citizens a safe environment and round security is one thing a government must do.

“No nation can be built where peace, security and stability are not assured or guaranteed and with reasonable predictability of the President and the future not enthroned.”

He added said, “Any government that is deaf, dumb and blind is a government that will not last. As a government, you need to listen to the people. If you fail to listen to the people, the day of reckoning will come for you and it will come soon. We can see it all around us; it has come.

“You have to realise that there is an element of hazard in life itself. What would make you not talk? Fear? There is a Yoruba proverb that says, ‘You talk, you die; you don’t talk, you’ll still die.’ Death is inevitable. As I am here, I am not afraid of death.

“It is painful what we are seeing. There are currently over four million out-of-school children in Nigeria. That is a fact. They cannot hide that. No Nigerian should bury their faces because they are scared of death. State the fact; if they want to deny it let them deny it.”

He added, “Diversity is of God; sameness is of the devil. We, as Nigerians, must learn to manage our diversity so that we can have one goal – the Nigerian dream.  A nation is not formed until there is a stake and mutual dignity and responsibility and purpose for every component.”

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Force Public Relations Officer for Lagos State Police Command, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu disclosed this in a statement.

He said the venue for the Lagos edition of the test is the WAEC Testing and Training Centre in Ogba.

According to the statement, “This is to inform candidates who participated in the 2020 recruitment exercise and have been shortlisted for the next stage that, computer-based aptitude test for successful candidates will take place nationwide on Friday 29th October 2021 and Saturday 30th October 2021.

“Successful candidates shortlisted for the aptitude test in Lagos State are requested to report at the WAEC TESTING AND TRAINING CENTRE, OGBA venue of the test at least an hour before commencement of the CBT which will start at 8.30am on Friday 29th October 2021. They are to come along with the computer printout of their exam slips and writing materials.

“All candidates are to further note that the exercise is free. Therefore, they are not expected to pay money to anybody under whatever guise.

“Candidates are warned against examination malpractices, as any infraction will attract severe penalties.”

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Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, noted that rather than take to the streets, the senior citizens should show understanding and be patient with government.

“Since we came in, in 2018, we have paid salaries and pensions as and when due and we are steadily reducing even the arrears we inherited from the previous administration.

“To show commitment, we just devised a strategy to ensure that those under the Contributory Pension Scheme and whose entitlements are from N100,000 to N500, 000, were paid up to December 2020. Also, we have taken on those from N501, 000 to N1millon, N1m to N1.5m and N1.5 to N2m and we are not relenting. In the last two months, we have paid over 300 Contributory Pensioners.

“From 2018 to date, we have expended about N40billion to cater for our senior citizens. This is a demonstration of love and commitment to our senior citizens and we won’t relent. Rather than resort to civil unrest, we appeal to our senior citizens to show understanding and be a little more patient with government,” the commissioner said.

In another development,  Chairman Civil Service Commission, of Kwara State, Hajjia Habeebat Anike Yusuf at the Commission’s meeting.

The aide said, “The Commission advised that all the affected Civil Servants are to fill all necessary documents and submit same four days before the interview date through the Staff officer of their respective Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to avoid delay or outright cancellation of the interview for any erring officer.

“She also advise that all the affected officers are to come with their face masks, Original Certificates, Citizenship Certificate, Service ID card, Approval of study leave (if any), Evidence of change of Names, examination slip, Letter of first Appointment, Letter of Gen.40, Letter of Last Promotion, Letter of Confirmation and NYSC Certificate or exemption.

“She warned that the Commission would not embark on any make-up interview for any candidate who missed the interview date.”