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Trouble In NICO Over Alleged Denial of Acting D.G To Proceed On Retirement

Published

5 years ago

February 25, 2020

BY ADMIN

There has been an uneasy calm in the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) following the alleged refusal of the Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Luis Eriomala to proceed on pre-retirement leave.

As the most senior director, Eriomala was appointed Acting ES late 2017 following the completion of the tenure of former ES, Professor Barclays F. Ayakoroma, who served between 2009 and 2017.

However, Eriomala has remained on acting capacity since his appointment, and with two months to his 60^th birthday, sources close to the institute are alleging that the acting ES has been trying to bribe his way to perpetuate himself in power in spite of his abysmal performance since he was made the acting ES.

According to the sources, the acting ES neither initiated new programmes nor implemented existing ones. They also alleged that while he kept complaining of a lack of funds, he has been traveling around the world with one of his young directors.

“His time has been very bad for NICO as all the programmes that were initiated were abandoned. Nothing is happening, everybody is grumbling in NICO. Even rents have not been paid for zonal offices, Ilorin, Akure, and Bayelsa. State offices receive only half of their allocation. Some offices collect as low as N75, 000 as impress. Zonal offices collect as low as N150, 000

“People don’t want the confirmation of his appointment. Let him hand over to the next most senior director. Let us try another person”, the source held.

The sources further disclosed that Eriomala was appointed into service on November 1, 1996, and going by the civil, one either retires after 35 years in service or at the compulsory retirement age of 60.

Since he was born on April 17, 1060, Eriomala would clock 60 years in April and accordingly, he ought to have proceeded on his pre-retirement leave in January.

“We were informed that Eriomala has been written by the supervising Ministry of Information and Culture, asking him to proceed on leave but he vehemently refused to go.

“By our calculation, Eriomala ought to have handed over to one Mrs. Bridgett Yerima, the head of NICO Cultural School in the Institute’s Lagos office, who is currently the most senior director.

The sources, therefore, called on the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to do the needful by ensuring that Eriomala embarks on leave. They stress that continuously retaining him is against the civil service rule and confirmation to the allegation of inducement leveled against the ministry.

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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