The Merrymakers magazine

07/07/2024

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21/06/2024

Multichoice Succumbs, Readjusts Subscription Prices For Dstv, GOtv

Following a court order mandating it to halt the move to hike prices, MultiChoice has readjusted its subscription rates for DStv and GOtv users in Nigeria.

The company had vowed to challenge the order of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal’s ruling in Abuja after reporting a decline in its subscriber base in Nigeria, leading to the loss of over a million subscribers.

MultiChoice has reflected the readjustment on its company’s apps as at Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Due to the adjustments, DStv subscribers will now pay N29,500 instead of N37,000 for the Premium package, while Compact+ package subscribers can now pay N19,800 instead of the new price of N25,000.

The readjustment now have Compact Bouquet subscribers paying N12,500 previously being charged instead of N15,700, while Confam package subscribers will pay the old price of N7,400 instead of N9,300 per month.

For the Yanga package subscribers, old rate of N4,200 will be paid against N5,100 placed as new rate; while Padi subscribers will pay the former price of N2,950 instead of the N3,600

Same goes for GOtv subscribers who are now required to pay the old rates of N12,500 for the Super+ package instead of N15,700.

GOtv Super users are required to pay N7,600 from N9,600, which the company charged; GOtv Max subscribers are to pay N5,700; GOtv Joli, N3,950; and N2,700 for GOtv Jinja.

08/03/2024

The Mandate Movement Launches Website, Aims To mobilize 40,000 New Members

The Mandate Movement Launches Website, Aims To mobilize 40,000 New Members

04/01/2024

Non-indigenes’ recruitment into Nigerian Army: Tajudeen Olanrewaju writes Sanwo-Olu, Lagbaja January 4, 2024

*Wants Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo LGA to step aside

Our attention has been drawn to a video that has gone viral online revealing a number of candidates who are non-indigenes of Lagos State and were issued ‘Letter of Indigeneship’ to use the slots of Lagos indigenes in the ongoing recruitment in the Nigeria Army.

Nobody would see and listen to the video and would not be repulsive about the violation of the constitutional rights of indigenes of Lagos State. There is an ongoing indigenes’ recruitment in Lagos State into the Nigerian Army. I believe this is procedurally wrong, constitutionally and democratically unacceptable, and it is a big slap on the national goal of achieving peace and unity of the country.

If this video is fake, let it be. But if not, I’m requesting the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to please use his good office to look into this matter and, if true, interrogate and stop it.

As for the ruling Lagos State government and responsible agencies, including Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, they are implored to step in and stop those who dish out fake indigene identity to non-indigenous residents in Lagos State in general. Some of the ways we feel these rampant abuses could be reduced by law will be outlined later in this article. This video has highlighted one of the various methods and ways indigenous Lagosians have been losing their slots as guaranteed in the Constitution.

Issues emanating from this video have been traced to Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, even though the Media Office of the Local Government’s Executive Chairman has released a statement trying to deny it, but the issue should not be swept under the carpet.
Our Local Government Area and Local Council Development Area Chairmen are not concerned and conscious of power of true Lagos State Indigeneship. Same applies to our Obas, traditional Chiefs and Baales. Securing certificate, letter or any documents of Lagos State Indegenship by individual must be thoroughly scrutinised, secured and not offered on the altar of money or friendship. Non-indigenes should go to their states for whatever they are required to present, which may require their State of Origin’s approval whenever they want to join any of the national services. They have their own vacancies awaiting them in their various local governments and there are 774 Local Governments in the federation.

Our IBILE Indigeneship application conditions are too porous and susceptible to abuses because they are not secured and are obtained under pretences of money and friendship. Very critical also is that most of the Chairmen of LGAs and LCDAs are not themselves true Indigenous IBILE persons. Same applies to some civil servants in the Lagos public services. These are believers of “Lagos State belongs to all”.

Therefore, there is no doubt that the quota of Lagos State are usurped by the Yorubas of the South West, Kwara and Kogi State or even those of other states that could easily buy-out the Lagos State Indigeneship certificates. I am sure same have been happening in other Security Agencies, Federal Civil Service Commission and other Department and Agencies. This is not a talk-shop matter anymore but walking the talk as a purposeful unit.

THE WAY OUT

First, the Chairman of the Oshodi-Isolo LGA must step aside for thorough investigation to take place. He cannot investigate himself.

Second, the Executive Governor/Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice are both respectfully requested to present an enabling law to the House of Assembly to be passed on “The Verification System Unit” that is autonomous and staffed by IBILE Indigeneous Staff, and established in the 5 Divisions of the State.

Its function is to liaise with the Armed Forces and link with Governor’s Office, Alausa. They will deal with recruitment and further follow up with the interview processes and monitor those shortlisted for admissions into the Armed Forces. This is what most of the states in the North do now. If this approach is fine-tuned properly, the law will help to reduce abuses associated with Lagos State slots allocated to it.

This method is doable and feasible, provided there is collective action and purposeful desire and political willpower.

*Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd),
Former Minister of Communications and former General Officer Commanding (GOC), Third Armoured Division, Nigerian Army.

01/01/2024

TEXT OF PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S NEW YEAR ADDRESS TO THE NATION

Dear Compatriots,

It gives me immense joy to welcome each and everyone of you – young and old- to this brand new year 2024. We must lift up our hands to Almighty God, in gratitude, for his grace and benevolence to our country and our lives in the year 2023 that has just gone by.

Though the past year was a very challenging one, it was eventful in so many ways. For our country, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking yet another remarkable step in our 24 years of unbroken democracy.

It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders, revitalise our floundering industrial sector, boost agricultural production, increase national productivity and set our country on an irreversible path towards national greatness that we and future generations will forever be proud of.

The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.

Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country.

Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades. Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families and businesses.

I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.

From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.

I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.

Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.

Silently, we have worked to free captives from abductors. While we can’t beat our chest yet that we had solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads.

Having laid the groundwork of our economic recovery plans within the last seven months of 2023, we are now poised to accelerate the pace of our service delivery across sectors.

Just this past December during COP28 in Dubai, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and I agreed and committed to a new deal to speed up the delivery of the Siemens Energy power project that will ultimately deliver reliable supply of electricity to our homes and businesses under the Presidential Power Initiative which began in 2018.

Other power installation projects to strengthen the reliability of our transmission lines and optimise the integrity of our National grid are ongoing across the country.

My administration recognises that no meaningful economic transformation can happen without steady electricity supply. In 2024, we are moving a step further in our quest to restart local refining of petroleum products with Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery which shall fully come on stream.

To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops. We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.

In this new year, we will race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms we need to put in place are codified and simplified to ensure the business environment does not destroy value. On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business.

I will fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria and I will not hesitate to remove any clog hindering our path to making Nigeria a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

In my 2024 Budget presentation to the National Assembly, I listed my administration’s 8 priority areas to include national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security. Because we take our development agenda very seriously, our 2024 budget reflects the premium we placed on achieving our governance objectives.

We will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government. The economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected. It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this new year. It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do.

I took an oath to serve this country and give my best at all times. Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough.

It is the reason I put in place a Policy Coordination, Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Unit in the Presidency to make sure that governance output improves the living condition of our people.

We have set the parameters for evaluation. Within the first quarter of this new year, Ministers and Heads of Agencies with a future in this administration that I lead will continue to show themselves.

Fellow Nigerians, my major ambition in government as a Senator in the aborted Third Republic, as Governor of Lagos State for eight years and now as the President of this blessed country is to build a fair and equitable society and close the widening inequality. While I believe the rich should enjoy their legitimately-earned wealth, our minimum bargain must be that, any Nigerian that works hard and diligent enough will have a chance to get ahead in life. I must add that because God didn’t create us with equal talents and strengths, I can not guarantee that we will have equal outcomes when we work hard. But my government, in this new year 2024 and beyond, will work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and to thrive.

For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone. Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.

In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.

We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old- shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn.

I wish all of us a happy and prosperous year 2024.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
1 January 2024

08/12/2023

Just get jealous or be inspired.........It's The Merrymakers magazine - the high society celebrity lifestyle and events coverage souvenir magazine.
Still the best by far......

11/11/2023

Another Nigerian blazing new territory.

Njideka Akunyili Crosby, 40, is a talented visual artist and the daughter of the late Prof Dora Akunyili.

She is currently the most valuable Nigerian artist of all time, and among the most valuable female artists of all nationalities, with her work 'The Beautyful One' sold by Christie's in Nov 2022 for $4.74 Million.

The same work had sold for $3.075 Million in Mar 2017 (an increase of $1.7Million for the delighted collectors). A profit of $1.7 Million over 5 years is not moin-moin! 😆

Her 2nd most expensive work, 'Bush Babies', was sold for $3.375 Million in Mar 2018 by Sotheby's.

Her first work, an untitled piece, sold for $93.75K in Sept 2016.

2 months later, in Nov 2016, her work 'Drown', a work showing her reclining with her husband, smashed all expectations by selling for $1.1Million.

She has had 22 works sold at auction over the last 7 years with auction prices achieved ranging from $100K to $4.474 Million.

In, 2016, Njideka Akunyili Crosby was named one of the Financial Times 'Women of the Year'.

She was awarded the prestigious $625K MacAurthur Fellowship 'Genius Grant' in 2017.

In 2018, Njideka designed the mural that wrapped the Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Avenue, Los Angeles.

Her work “Thriving and Potential, Displaced (Again and Again and…)” (2021) was commissioned for the Met's exhibition, 'Before Yesterday We Could Fly'.

Her work was included in the 2022 exhibition Women Painting Women at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Her work was also featured in the National Portrait Gallery's 2023 Kinship exhibit.

Go Njideka! Another Nigerian doing us all very proud.

16/10/2023

Tinubu’s Chicago University Certificate: BBC issues another Statement on its findings
October 16, 2023
9:30 am

The British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) is standing by its story published last week that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago State University (CSU) certificate is not forged.
The international media outfit in a reaction to complaints forwarded to it by certain individuals, insisted on the content of it story.

A letter signed by BBC Complaints Team, addressed to it Audience Member at the weekend, expressed regret that some people are unhappy with “our findings on this matter”.

The BBC letter reads: “Dear Audience Member. Thank you for taking time to write to us.



“We received a number of similar complaints and we regret that you are unhappy with our findings on this matter. We have looked into this and the BBC has not seen any evidence that the certificate was forged. We contacted the Chicago State University and they confirmed that Bola Tinubu graduated from the university in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree. We believe our text piece has been informative and responsible, reporting known facts. We therefore stand by our journalism.”

13/10/2023

13/10/2023

STOP EATING ANYHOW IN THE PARTY... LIFE MAGGOTS IN THE PARTY FOOD. FEW, WKS AGO.PLS BECAREFUL 🙄

13/10/2023

*The Atiku WAEC Certificate Saga;*

At Jada Primary School, his name was registered as Atiku Kojoli.

At Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, he registered as Atiku Abubakar.

But when he was to join Nigerian Customs, he presented a WAEC certificate that belong to 'Siddik Abubakar'.

He then went to court to obtain an affidavit. The Affidavit read :Sadiq Abubakar (not Siddik as contained on WAEC certificate) is same person as Atiku Abubakar.

At ABU, Diploma in Hygiene, he bears Atiku Abubakar.

Then, he went to obtain a Postgraduate certificate (miraculously without an undergraduate certification) from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.

He presented to INEC, a WAEC certificate that bears Siddik Abubakar and a Postgraduate certificate without any undergraduate certification.

However, a search at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, said that they don't have Atiku Abubakar's name as a Postgraduate Student in the School at any point in time.

Atiku obviously has more questions to answer.

Ó tún ti ńrúgbó bọ̀ oooooo!!!🤣

31/07/2023

Full Text Of President Tinubu’s Broadcast To Nigerians On Current Economic Challenges
July 31, 2023 Merrymakers magazine

AFTER DARKNESS COMES THE GLORIOUS DAWN
My fellow citizens,

I want to talk to you about our economy. It is important that you understand the reasons for the policy measures I have taken to combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced.

I am not going to talk in difficult terms by dwelling on economic jargon and concepts. I will speak in plain, clear language so that you know where I stand. More importantly, so that you see and hopefully will share my vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country.
For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy cost us trillions of Naira yearly. Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security. Instead, it was being funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.
This group had amassed so much wealth and power that they became a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance. To be blunt, Nigeria could never become the society it was intended to be as long as such small, powerful yet unelected groups hold enormous influence over our political economy and the institutions that govern it.
The whims of the few should never hold dominant sway over the hopes and aspirations of the many. If we are to be a democracy, the people and not the power of money must be sovereign.
The preceding administration saw this looming danger as well. Indeed, it made no provision in the 2023 Appropriations for subsidy after June this year. Removal of this once helpful device that had transformed into a millstone around the country’s neck had become inevitable.
Also, the multiple exchange rate system that had been established became nothing but a highway of currency speculation. It diverted money that should have been used to create jobs, build factories and businesses for millions of people. Our national wealth was doled on favourable terms to a handful handful of people who have been made filthy rich simply by moving money from one hand to another. This too was extremely unfair.
It also compounded the threat that the illicit and mass accumulation of money posed to the future of our democratic system and its economy.
I had promised to reform the economy for the long-term good by fighting the major imbalances that had plagued our economy. Ending the subsidy and the preferential exchange rate system were key to this fight. This fight is to define the fate and future of our nation. Much is in the balance.
Thus, the defects in our economy immensely profited a tiny elite, the elite of the elite you might call them. As we moved to fight the flaws in the economy, the people who grow rich from them, predictably, will fight back through every means necessary.
Our economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle. Things seem anxious and uncertain. I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.
What I can offer in the immediate is to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on all of us, most especially on businesses, the working class and the most vulnerable among us.
Already, the Federal Government is working closely with states and local governments to implement interventions that will cushion the pains of our people across socio-economic brackets.
Earlier this month, I signed four (4) Executive Orders in keeping with my electoral promise to address unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes that are stifling the business environment. These Executive Orders on suspension and deferred commencement of some taxes will provide the necessary buffers and headroom to businesses in manufacturing sector to continue to thrive and expand.
To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good paying jobs, we are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start a sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1billion credit at 9% per annum with maximum of 60 months repayment for long term loans and 12 months for working capital
Our administration recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. We are going to energise this very important sector with N125 billion.
Out of the sum, we will spend N50 billion on Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. Our target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.
Ultimately, this programme will further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, we will fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion. Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 to N1million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months.
To further ensure that prices of food items remain affordable, we have had a multi-stakeholder engagement with various farmers’ associations and operators within the agricultural value chain.
In the short and immediate terms, we will ensure staple foods are available and affordable. To this end, I have ordered release of 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices. We are also providing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers who are committed to our food security agenda.
Our plan to support cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice remains on course. To be specific, N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly will be disbursed as follows:
-Our administration will invest N50 billion each to cultivate 150,000 hectares of rice and maize.

-N50 billion each will also be earmarked to cultivate 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava.

This expansive agricultural programme will be implemented targeting small-holder farmers and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agric business with strong performance record.
In this regard, the expertise of Development Finance Institutions, commercial banks and microfinance banks will be tapped into to develop a viable and an appropriate transaction structure for all stakeholders.
Fellow Nigerians, I made a solemn pledge to work for you. How to improve your welfare and living condition is of paramount importance to me and it’s the only thing that keeps me up day and night.
It is in the light of this that I approved Infrastructure Support Fund for the States. This new Infrastructure Fund will enable States to intervene and invest in critical areas and bring relief to many of the pain points as well as revamp our decaying healthcare and educational Infrastructure.
The fund will also bring improvements to rural access roads to ease evacuation of farm produce to markets. With the fund, our states will become more competitive and on a stronger financial footing to deliver economic prosperity to Nigerians.
Part of our programme is to roll out buses across the states and local governments for mass transit at a much more affordable rate. We have made provision to invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses.
These buses will be shared to major transportation companies in the states, using the intensity of travel per capital. Participating transport companies will be able to access credit under this facility at 9% per annum with 60 months repayment period.
In the same vein, we are also working in collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers. I want to tell our workers this: your salary review is coming.
Once we agree on the new minimum wage and general upward review, we will make budget provision for it for immediate implementation.
I want to use this opportunity to salute many private employers in the Organised Private Sector who have already implemented general salary review for employees.
Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there is no doubt about it that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All of our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work.
Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully on line. However, we are swiftly closing the time gap. I plead with you to please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being.
We will get out of this turbulence. And, due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters. That money will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families.
For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon his or her education because of lack of money.
Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On this principle, we shall never falter.
We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene.
I assure you my fellow country men and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.
Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true.
Thank you all for listening and may God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria

13/03/2023

The King & his Queen!

21/02/2023

“I had obtained and filled the INEC form to go to the Senate, then I realised that I have a Governorship candidate, Mr Babatunde Fashola and Obasanjo was the President, determined to win Lagos state.

I told myself, 'if I go ahead I will strive to win my seat while leaving Fashola to his fate'. Then one morning I called Ganiyu Solomon and told him to follow me to Abuja, we landed and off we went to INEC office, withdrew my form and handed him another form. Ganiyu was shocked, he asked me for what sir, I said fill the form, he did and that was how I was able to concentrate in the Governorship election, Fashola won and Gani also won his seat. We must make sacrifices,"

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu