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NIGERIA OCTOBER05 – Oct. 11, 2020N200...first in breaking the news www.aljazirahnews.com Vol. 2 No. 151

…When Schools Resume Across Nigeria

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North Supports Buhari’s Minister For President

Again, Octopus Predicts Outcome

As AljazirahNigeria octopus was on point on Edo election

Pandemic Adds To Poverty, As Nigerians Groan

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Pregnant IDPs At The Mercy Of Local Birth Attendants

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Consumers Groan As DisCos Delay Tariff Hike ReversalPA

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2023: Another Group Joins Fray For Tinubu

ONDO ELECTION

After a lull of about sixe months, schools are set to resume nationwide after the outbreak of the dreaded Corona virus, COVID-19, which riveted

through the globe and did not spare Nigeria. Though it is being reported that there is a resurgence of the plague in some countries, Nigeria on a complimentary note is experiencing a downturn in infection rates. With a weak infrastructure and poor health

institutions, it would have been devastating if the current infection rates soured beyond what they are. One of the recent posts by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, indicated that Nigeria infection rates stands at 59,127 with 1,112 deaths and 50, 593 recovery as at October 3.

These figures are relatively containable and indeed not irredeemably bleak.

continue on page 5

editorial

Wike Advocates Effective Power Devolution

How NLC Betrayed Nigerians Over Planned Strike

Bayelsa: What’s Next As Diri Wins Appeal?

Why NFF Removed Dankaro’s Signage From Secretariat

Wike Advocates Effective Power DevolutionbY Ruth Gbaka

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says Nigeria’s development will remain stunted without strong institutions that will promote the devolution of power.

Governor Wike made the assertion at an event to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day celebration at Government House, Port Harcourt.

He said it was time for Nigerians to confront core political and economic issues that hamper sustained growth.

According to him, to put Nigeria on the path of progressive growth, the rule of law, a fraud-proof electoral system, effective neutrality of law enforcement agencies, and the independence of the judiciary should be put in place.

“We may gloat in the limited progress that we have made since independence. It is true that we have achieved relative expansion in access to education, healthcare, and the socio-economic infrastructure.

“But if we fail to give considerations to the serious challenges preventing us, we cannot build a free, fair, and just nation that will command the total loyalty of all nationalities.

“Let us, therefore, resolve to take the right step to institutionalize the necessary constitutional and political systems that will enable us to build a free, sovereign democratic and functional

nation”, he stated.Governor Wike noted

that at independence, there was an effective democracy, regional autonomy, and fiscal federalism. Those principles, he said, guided the political, social, and economic relations between the central government and the regional constitutional regions until they were frustrated.

“Our founding fathers envisioned to build our nation with due regards to our diversities and with visionary enthusiasm. They provided basic building blocks for sustaining a united, peaceful,

bY Wisdom onYeisi

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has condemned the comparison between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia made by President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Independence Day address.

The President, TUC, Quadri Olaleye, in a statement, said the comparison was unnecessary as Nigeria was not at par in all ramifications with Saudi Arabia and other countries mentioned.

He said the country had achieved nothing despite six decades of oil exploration, adding that the government was paying lip service to infrastructure development.

and prosperous Nigeria with a functional constitution document.

“No one part or region was deliberately denied against what was due to it. No ethnic nationality was politically and economically favoured unduly above all others by the central government.

“Under this arrangement, Nigeria thrived on a peaceful and progressive path. Unfortunately, the fundamental principles of negotiated constitutional regional autonomy and federal government were blatantly jettisoned,” he said.

He said successive governments had looted, laundered and wasted the country’s resources while patronising hospitals outside the country. Olaleye said, “It is like comparing black and white. It is that bad!

“It is ridiculous to compare Nigeria with Saudi, Dubai, or any other country, not even in Africa. With the natural resources that we have, we could rule the world, but government is not interested. There is no need for this comparison because it looks like the president is defending fraud and the impoverishment of Nigerians.

“Come to think of it, what

Governor Wike restated that Rivers state would continue to promote the unity of the country and ensure the peaceful coexistence of all residents.

According to him, efforts will be sustained in improving the standard of living, expand healthcare delivery, and pursue accelerated economic growth. There is an unprecedented investment in the provision of socio-economic infrastructure across the state.

We are constructing roads, flyovers, jetties, markets, and expanding healthcare and education facilities throughout the state including the rural

has Nigeria achieved with all the money made from oil since over six decades of oil exploration in commercial quality? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. All successive leaderships have done is loot, launder and buy properties in foreign land.

“So, if the president is defending the hike (in pump price), what does he want to do with the surplus they will make from the hike? The same old story of providing infrastructure! Our roads are nothing but death traps. Our leaders are not patriotic at all.”

He argued that in Saudi Arabia, roads, water, and to some extent, jobs were not

Wikeareas. This is to accelerate economic growth and make life more meaningful for our people.

“We have spared no effort

big issues.“On the other hand,

Nigerians contend with estimated bills because power firms had refused to provide meters,” Olaleye added.

In a similar vein, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), has express disappointment over President Buhari’s Independence Day broadcast.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the economic assertions in Buhari’s speech as a huge slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians.

The main opposition party expressed dissatisfaction on Mr. President Speech and

in advancing and achieving security. Rivers state is now reckoned as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria with much-improved business environment that is attracting investors.

Clearly, we have a bright future”, he emphasized. The Governor also commended the military for their efforts in curbing banditry, and all forms of insurgency to defend the sovereignty of the country.

Earlier, Governor Wike had inspected the parade mounted by the Nigeria Police at the brief ceremony that also featured the release of Peace Pigeons.

also pointed out that his speech did not address the interest and demands by Nigerians.

The party said they wondered why the President should compare Nigeria with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others.

PDP condemned Buhari over his attempt to justify recent increase in the pump price of fuel by comparing the equivalent of N168 per liter cost in Saudi Arabia, describing it as a morbid joke.

“Is Mr. President not aware that on the average, a person working in Saudi Arabia earns around 4,230SAR (N430, 267) to 16,700 SAR (N1,698,693) per month.

TUC, PDP Berate Buhari Over Saudi, Egypt Comparison, Says It’s Ridiculous

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Gov. Umar Ganduje of Kano State (left) greets some members of the State Traditional Council, during Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day celebration at Sabon Gari Stadium in Kano on Thursday, October 1. Photo: BJo/NAN.

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InsIdE ThIs wEEk05.10.2020 – 11.10.2020

Raffia Fabrics: The Essence Of High Fashion

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies have started to yield the desired results in Nigeria, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, northern Nigeria, has said.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, 29th September 2020, inaugurated the 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line for commercial operation.

The Minister of State Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Thursday noted that Nigeria is beyond the possibility of breaking up.

Former Edo State Governor, John Odigie-Oyegun, has revealed why he did not take party in the campaign movement of the All Progressives Congress in the just concluded Edo State elections.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has projected a N13.08 trillion budget for the 2021 fiscal year. This was disclosed in Abuja to State House Correspondents ...

Mr Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Minister of Youths and Sports Development has disclosed that the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari plans to create one million jobs for unemployed youths.

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Consumers Pay High Tarrif For Darkness Despite N1.7trn FG’s Interventions

Tunisia FA Saves Threatening Super Eagles Games

Nigeria At 60: Unemployment, Security Situation Worsening

PAGE 11

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PAGE 31

business & economy

Edo 2020: Forces Behind Obaseki’s Victory

PAGE 21

politics & policy

NDPHC Delivers 20,000 Solar Home Systems Across 12 States, Says Ugbo PAGE 20

Buhari’s Policies Yielding Fruitful Results – Atiku Bagudu

President Buhari Commissions Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line

Why Nigeria Can No Longer Break Up – Keyamo

Edo: Oyegun Reveals Why He Didn’t Campaign For APC

Federal Government Approves N13.08tn Budget For 2021

How FG Plans To Create One Million Jobs Before End Of October – Sunday Dare

Monday, September 28, 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Friday, October 2, 2020

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Saturday, October 3, 2020

“The Abuja City Gate being decorated with Nigerian flags

in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary

on Thursday, October 1.

Photo: Anthony Alabi/NAN

news reviewOctober 5 – October 11, 20204 www.aljazirahnews.com



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October 5 – October 11, 2020




editorialHowever this modest demographics which has not isolated any age group, sex or religion, may have been kept in check by many factors, including the response of health and medical workers who have been at the frontline in tackling the pandemic.

Kudos must also go to governmental and non-governmental organizations for their responses bordering on advocacy and mass information on handling the pandemic.

We are however disturbed by the recent cases of resurgence of infections across parts of the globe where the curves were hitherto seen to be flattening. Such scenarios point to the fact that viral infections by their very nature are tricky and sometimes intractable. This calls for caution and intense circumspection on the part of all.

However, now that schools are about to resume nationwide, fresh concerns are being raised in some quarters as to the propriety or otherwise of that move. The Federal Government, FG, only recently announced the resumption of all its unity schools for October 12 and counselled that states could follow suit depending on their local challenges and peculiarities. This suggests that schools are set to re-open across the country as it does appear some states had even began to do so even before the FG’s directives.

We appreciate the position of the government, especially that prior to the ravaging pandemic, the education system in many parts of the country were already in near comatose state. Thus allowing a longer time for schools to resume

would no doubt denigrate further the dwindling fortunes of that all-important sector of our national life.

While it has become imperative for schools to resume, it would be forthright to state what is necessary for all stakeholders to do no matter how tedious they may seem in the face of the reported re-emergence of the pandemic in some other climes where it was presumed the worst fears were over.

AljazirahNigeria urges schools’ managers and their health professionals to be strict on the minimum Covid-19 protocols for both staff and students and be on the watch for any untoward traits suggesting that the wellness of any individual is under threat. This entails vigilance and effective monitoring of the totality of the school environment on the part of the managers.

We also caution that extra measures be taken where boarding schools are resuming. Parents and guardians should go the extra mile to ensure that their wards are free from any infections of any kind, including Covid-19 by subjecting them to test before presenting them to be boarded.

We empathize with school owners, especially those of the private sector whose incomes have been eroded as long as the pandemic was ravaging even as we appreciate the FG which has opened a window for private schools to enjoy some palliatives in its recent programmes encompassing them and other small and medium scale enterprises.

For schools to remain safe, it would task the ingenuity of stakeholders who must dedicate, time and materials to stem the tide of the ravaging pandemic through the school

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WhoSAIDWhat?In the neWS

Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided overthe near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attemptto criticize our efforts.

– President Muhammadu Buhari.

frOm cover

…When schools Resume across nigeria

By Ayomide AlAgBe

As the permutations for 2023 presidency gathers steam, flyers of the north lending support to Project Nigeria’s clamour for President Buhari’s Minister of State, Education, Honourable Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba to become president of Nigeria in

By iBrAhim ABdul

Amid political realignments ahead of 2023, former Senator representing Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone, Senator Abdul’ Aziz Nyako , has denied claims that he was awarded contract by the Fintiri’s led PDP government to supply patrol Toyota Hilux vehicles.

In t recent times, there were hullabaloos in Adamawa political circles that the former senator has benefited in the ruling the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state.

Senator Nyako, a former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress

By iBrAhim goronyo, Sokoto

New leaders of the Sokoto state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been charged to operate an open door policy to accommodate more people willing to join the party.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal made the plea while hosting a new state and local governments PDP executives in the state.

North Supports Buhari’s Minister For President

2023: Sen. Nyako Denies Executing Contract With Fintiri’s Govt

Operate Open Policy To Accommodate Others – Tambuwal

2023.This is pursuant the intense agitation for Igbo to produce the next President in 2023 at the end of President Buhari’s tenure.

Nwajiuba, a known ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, analysts say falls into the category of an Igbo accepted in the North.

He is among those who

(ADC) in the 2019 elections, said he was not given any contract by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Reacting on the purported Toyota Hilux contract, Senator Nyako whose position was made known through his aide Aliyu Sa’ad said that, ‘’ Let it be on record that Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako has never executed any contract with the Adamawa State Government at any time and to be specific, he has not supplied any Toyota Hilux to the Fintiri Administration.

‘’Anybody within or outside the Government that has any evidence to the contrary is hereby challenged to make it public.

The governor said by opening their doors more supporters will join the party as many people are already showing their interests to do so.

He said there is the need for the new executives to bring unity among the party supporters and also urged them to carry everybody along in order to move the party forward.Tambuwal commended the party faithful for the peaceful

played vital roles during the formation of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

Posters with Nwajiuba’s image aspiring for President supported by some members of the APC in the North had surfaced strengthening speculations that indeed, the minister is really in the race for the Presidency in 2023.

Recalls that Nyako has on Wednesday, June 17, while reacting to ‘’ mass defection’’ of ADC members blasted the PDP in the state and the Fintiri led government, describing the defection ‘’ as a farce of a non-performing desperado when the government and the PDP ought to have joined in mourning over the consequences of insecurity.’’

In his official Facebook handle, Sen. Nyako stated: “They created a storm in a teacup with nothing at stake and blew it out of the proportion for propaganda purposes by claiming that there have been mass defections from the ADC to the PDP today,” Nyako said.

conduct of the party Congresses at all levels in the state.

While congratulating the new executives, the governor assured them that his administration is willing to give all necessary support and cooperation to the them so as to enable them perform effectively.

He charged them to justify the confidence party reposed on them and operate as a one family.

It would be recalled that Nwajiuba, a former member of the House of Representatives and two times governorship candidate in Imo state, has received tremendous backing to join the race for the presidency in 2023.

According to the National Secretary, Project Nigeria group, Sir Chinedu Comrade Ogubuike, KSM, the group is the official support group for Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba for 2023 presidential project.

According to him, the group is led by Prof. Armay’au Hamisu Bichi, from Kano State, who is the National Co ordinator, while a fourth term member of the House of Representatives representing Ukwa Federal Constituency, Rt Hon. Nkem. Abonta, is the South East Co ordinator of the group.

The statement which also listed other officials of the group, stated that “Nwajiuba is a global brand making himself available to serve our country Nigeria as No 1 citizen come 2023 by the special grace of God.”

Chairman Benue State Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Dr. Sylvester Atarchin and other members of the commission with the acting clerk National Assembly, Mr. Ojo Olatunde Amos during the courtesy visit to the clerk at the National Assembly recently. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA

By hAssAn Jirgi, Bauchi

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Thursday the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has supervised Nigeria’s slide into extreme decay in the last five years.

In a statement titled: “Reflection on Nigeria @ 60: The past, Present and Way Forward…We need a national dialogue,” and signed by the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, the governors also lamented that the present administration had widened Nigeria’s fault lines with divisive actions.

They added that the country appeared to be in reverse gear with the current state of affairs.

The governors said: “In the last five years, under the APC-controlled administration, Nigeria has continued on the downward slide into extreme decay, with the country displacing India as the poverty capital of the world, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians living on less than $1.9 a day (Brooking Institute 2018).

“We as leaders must strive harder to make sure that poverty is minimised in all parts of the country. This is even made worse by the fact that in 2019 Nigeria ranked 93rd out of 117 qualifying countries with a score of 27.9 below Guinea and Mali in the Global Hunger index.

“It is also regrettable to note that the Buhari-led APC administration has plunged Nigeria deeper into the debt trap after the country had exited from its initial debt burden from the London and Paris Clubs under the PDP-led administration.

It is indeed sad to observe that Nigeria’s external debt hit a 16- year high of $27 billion in December 2019, just higher than the $20.8 billion in external level as at 2005 when Nigeria exited from the club of its foreign creditors. Any loan acquired that is not directly tied to a meaningful infrastructure that can help Nigeria’s progress should not be taken.

Buhari Leading Nigeria Into ‘Extreme Decay’ – PDP Governors By henry iByA, MakuRDi

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, has charged appointees in his administration to adhere strictly to the philosophy of his Government which he noted as selfless service, accountability and discipline anchored on the fear of God, in order to fight all forms of corrupt tendencies to help Government deliver on it’s campaign promises to Benue people.

The governor who gave the charge at a ceremony to swear in a new special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr. Kenneth Achabo, at the new banquet hall of Government House in Makurdi, said the decision was to fill the vacuum created as a result of the demise of Mr. Jerome Torshimbe, who passed on after a brief illness and was buried recently.

Governor Ortom, reminded the new adviser that his choice to replace Mr. Torshimbe, out of millions of equally qualified Benue indigenes was an act of God, stressing that he must ensure to carry the people along by being generous without touching Government funds as well as advised Party supporters to equally avoid mounting unnecessary pressure on the appointee so that he would not go outside his legitimate earnings in order not to attract the wrath of the EFCC and the ICPC to enable him settle down quickly to hit the ground running.

Governor Ortom, further revealed that the appointment of Mr. Achabo, was based on his vast experience, sound character as well as the philosophy of his administration to adhere to fair play through equitable sharing of slots to avoid rancor and advised the new adviser to do his best as well as make sacrifices where necessary by contributing his quota to add value to help the administration achieve desired results.

The governor who described the oath of office administered on the adviser and other appointees as a covenant not before men but God emphasized the need for the oath to be respected lamenting that most appointees soon after the ceremony abandon the oath by indulging into acts that were contrary to the oath and directed that copies of the oath be made available to the new adviser and other members of the state executive council to serve as a constant reminder whenever they were going contrary to the oath of office.

Gov Ortom Charge’s Appointees On Selfless Service

In his address, the new Chairman of the state PDP, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Goronyo, said the new executives will work hand in hand with the state government with a view to contribute their quota.

He thanked the party supporters for giving them opportunity to serve and also called for unity and cooperation to enable the party achieve its goals of moving the state forward.



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Benue Assembly Joints Ortom To Reject Water Resources Bill

R-L: Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila during the opening of jointstakeholders meeting on petroleum industry on the PIB bill on MondaySeptember 28. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA

By Joel AJAyi

The hope of many youths in the country is to revitalized as the Federal Government has announced that Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, NYIF, application porter would be opened for registration as from Monday October 5, 2020.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare disclosed this Friday, October 2 at an event organized by I CHOOSE LIFE FOUNDATION in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and other partners in Abuja.

The programme tagged “MY NIGERIAN DREAM” is an initiative of the “I CHOOSE LIFE FOUNDATION”.

While answering the questions at the panel session of the programme said “I and other young Nigerians, the dream of a greater Nigeria and we are working towards it.

“We have put together a number of young Nigerians as focal persons and technical committee for the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund and I can announce to you that the registration porter would be opened on Monday 5th of October, 2020 for the youth”

It will be recalled that President Mohammadu Buhari in July, 2020 approved the establishment of an N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) for three years following a memo presented by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

The NYIF is to serve as a sort of Youth Bank that will fund and support the innovative ideas, skills, talents, and enterprise of the Nigerian Youth.

FG Opens NYIF Application Portal Oct 5

By, AkAm Aniefiok, Yenagoa

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has warned of impending natural disasters in the country following lack of interest by the Federal Government to conserve the country’s wetland resources.

The council said natural violence caused by floods had become a recurrent decimal because the government failed to take deliberate steps to preserve natural defences in the country’s wetland.

The IYC made their position known in a statement signed and sent to AljazirahNigeria, on Thursday by its President,

Peter Igbifa, to mark the 60th Independence of Nigeria.

They said it was unfortunate that at 60, the country still condoned some dangerous environmental activities like gas flaring, depleting the ecosystem and eroding wetland assets.

Could it be that the Federal Government is not interested in wetland preservation because the country’s wetland is situated in the Niger Delta, which is rated as the third largest wetland in the world?

The government should know that preserving Niger Delta wetland is for the overall interest of the country

By HenRy iByA, MaKURDI

Benue State House of Assembly has resolved to support Governor Samuel Ortom’s, earlier stand to reject the National Water Resources Bill alleged to have been already passed by the National Assembly waiting presidential assent to became a law.

The Benue Assembly, whose resolution was reached at a plenary session presided over by speaker of the House Mr. Titus Uba,in Makurdi, through a motion of urgent public importance brought before it by the majority leader Mr Godwin Edo, representative of Agatu state constituency in the Assembly expressed worry over the resurfacing of the bill after it was rejected by the 8th National Assembly.

Mr. Edo, further informed

because wetland protects a country from natural disasters and lack of its preservation is the reason we have started experiencing strange flood disasters”, he said.

Igbifa, also recalled that in 1971, the country participated in an international treaty on wetland conservation held at Ramsar in Iran and agreed to protect wetland assets in the Niger Delta region.

He, however, said years after the agreement, successive administrations had failed to make and implement deliberate policy on wetland protection saying that the Niger Delta has the

the House that the National Water Resources Bill if allowed to become law, would prevent state’s, Local Government Areas as well as individuals the right to use God given water in their domains except with permission from the Federal Government and argued that should this be allowed to happen,it will be a contravention of the Land use Act which has vested the control, management and use of Land within a state in the hands of state governor’s.

The majority leader of the Benue Assembly further explained that the bill among other things also seek to enact a law that will summarily relinquish the use of water irrespective of it’s geo-political location to the Federal Government, which will give the agencies to be established by the bill sweeping powers to control all water resource,

Ijaw Group Faults FG Over Lack Of Policy To Preserve Wetland

third biggest wetland in the world.

He said: “I will bring your attention to the Nigeria participation in international treaty on wetland conservation in 1971. All these countries that have wetland gathered in Iran in a place called Ramsa, the biggest wetland in Southeast Asia. Thy signed a treaty for wetland conservation in the whole world.

Niger Delta is the only prominent wetland here in Africa. It is also the third largest wetland in the world. The biggest wetland, the Amazon wetland in Brazil is

surfaces and underground as well as the Bank of water sources, urging the honorable House and all people of good will to reject the bill in the interest of most especially the suffering Nigerians.

In his contribution’s, the deputy speaker of the House Mr. Christopher Adaji, described the bill as not only controversial but argued that any one with the interest of the Nigerian citizens at heart will not support such a bill which he noted seeks to dispossess Nigerians of their ancestral heritage and sources of economic earnings.

While the minority leader of the Assembly, Mr. Bem Mngutyo, described the National Water Resources Bill as one of the most contentious bills which has already been rejected by many states of the Federation.

Mr. Mngutyo,who said the

bill was another subtle way of taking over Benue Land noted that as representatives of the people, members were left with no choice rather than supporting the position of the electorate’s who he said were bent on rejecting the bill based on their past experiences regarding attacks by herder’s which resulted to the enactment of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law which has put the state and it’s people at dagger’s drown with it’s enemies.

In his remarks speaker of the Assembly Mr. Titus Uba, said the House also resolved and equally urged that all National Assembly Members of Benue extraction present a common position on the floor of the National Assembly by rejecting the bill which is the position of the state and it’s people.

recently impacted by climate change. You can see the wildfire eating up the entire ecosystem and wildlife in the Amazon.

Wetland conservation should be a priority of every national government. Now Brazil has lost the ecosystem, arable land, wildlife and the economy which the wetland provides. According to global statistics, wetland contributes $1bn in terms of foreign direct investment globally and they feed close to one billion of the whole population.

So, we should not be joking with wetland. Aside oil and gas, wetland is an economic asset. In terms of geography and economic issues, wetland provides shoreline protection against ocean encroachment and high tidal waves.

The reason why Nigeria is not consumed by flood like other countries is because of the wetland we have in the Niger Delta. The mangrove trees constitute national wind breakers against storms. That is why we can’t have hurricane, tornado and natural violence that happens in other countries”.

Igbifa said the Niger Delta wetland had been further abued by the devastating practice of gas flaring adding that the region had over 150 flaring sites.

He said all the carbon emissions from flared gas had depleted the ozone layer leading to perennial flooding in the region especially in Bayelsa State.

Igbifa said: “The oil and gas fossil fuel activities have further aggravated the problems in the wetland assets and the ecosystem. Niger Delta has close to 150 flaring sites and these sites carry out carbon emission into the atmosphere which in turn mixes up with those green house gasses which impacts the climate an depletes the ozone layer. This is causes perennial flooding.

In Bayelsa a few years ago the flooding was there for a long period and it impacted on the economy of the people. In 1994, Nigeria entered a signatory in Japan, with other countries, which flared gasses to reduce flaring from 94% to 0.4%”.

He said most of the countries agreed and carried out the treaty but that only Nigeria remained adamant and still flared gas in emission level of 94 per cent.Dare

newsOctober 5 – October 11, 2020






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By IBrahIm aBdul

The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese and Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Adamawa State Rev. Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza has spit fire, alleging that Nigeria has never been divided like it is under the current leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mamza, alleged that the insensitivity of the Buhari led government to maintain religious and ethnic balance in its appointments” is further widening the gulp of suspicion between the diverse peoples of Nigeria.”

The CAN chairman who was speaking on Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, scored Buhari’s administration low in the area of security, adding that life under the administration has no sanctity as people are being killed on daily basis while the government remained largely passive and unconcerned.

He noted that lack of fairness and injustice being meted to a large section of the populace is further worsening the country’s plight as many have lost hope of being fairly and justly treated by the government.

Some of the challenges have to do with the issue of justice and fairness. Even the issue of security has to do with lack of justice and fairness. If you have all the security chiefs mostly from one region and most of them are northerners then how will you be able to bring everybody on board? And how can you put sense of belonging?

Even the recent senior customs appointment that he made is skewed as all the seven or eight senior customs officers he appointed are Muslims from the north. This country is not for one tribe or one religion.

The president’s inactiveness could be responsible for what is happening in Nigeria and that is why there is no class solution to the security challenges that we are facing,” he said.

Mamza was emphatic that the failure of the president to pander to the calls of majority of Nigerians to change the security chiefs is a major shortcoming of his leadership, noting that in democracy, the leaders must hanker to the whims and caprices of the people.

Independence Anniversary: Adamawa CAN Chair Says Nigeria Most Divided Now By INIOBONG SuNday, UYO

Worried by lack of transparency in the operation of the government businesses by the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom state council, has threatened to sue the state government over alleged non compliance with the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.

Rising from the October congress of the union held at the Godswill Akpabio Press Centre, Information Drive, Uyo, the state capital, the congress presided over by the Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, expressed regret that the practice of journalism in the state has become so cumbersome in view of the fact that government agencies were in the habit of shielding information from Journalists.

Consequently, the congress in a communique issued at the end of the meeting resolved that henceforth, the union would not hesitate to take legal action against Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) found culpable in the act of preventing journalists from accessing information within the stipulated time allowed in the relevant section of the regulation.

Congress notes the consistent refusal of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Akwa Ibom State to provide certain information requested by journalists, thereby flouting the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act”, the communique said

and called on the MDAs to do the needful to avoid a resort to legal action to get the required information.

The administration of Governor Emmanuel has come under consistent attacks by opposition and concerned civil society organizations for alleged mismanagement of state allocations running into N1.6Trillion in the last five years and the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the administration of lack of proper accountability.

Alleged Breach Of FOI Act: NUJ Threatens To Sue A’Ibom Govt

By JOel aJayI

The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has appealed to all stakeholders in Ondo State to provide adequate security for Corps Members that will be engaged as polling officials in the forthcoming the gubernatorial election in the state.

He said Corps Members were apolitical and focused on contributing their quota towards national development.

General Ibrahim stated these today during a courtesy visit to the Deji of Akure, His Imperial Majesty Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi and also the Olowo of the Owo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III in their palaces.

He assured that the youth on national service would perform the election

duties with a high sense of responsibility and neutrality, but added that all stakeholders must contribute towards giving them maximum protection.

The NYSC boss, who appreciated the monarch for his support for NYSC, stressed that the Scheme placed a high premium on the welfare and security of the Corps Members. “I want to plead with the good people of Ondo State to protect my Corps Members.

“We want to ensure that our Corps Members are safe as we look forward to a hitch-free election”, the DG added.

Ibrahim further urged residents of the State to tap from the potentials of Corps Members for socio-economic development, adding that their knowledge, loyalty, and dedication to duty were of immense benefit.

Responding, the Deji of Akure commended the NYSC Scheme for its role in

mentoring of the nation’s youth.

He added that residents of Ondo State were looking up to the Corps Members credible conduct of the Governorship Election.

We believe in them because they are up to the task and residents of the Ondo State trust them”, the monarch said.

Also the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye commended General Ibrahim for his efforts in mentoring graduate youths.

He lauded the NYSC for its roles in adding more credibility to the electoral assignments in the country.

Corps Members are treasures that must be protected and no matter what, nothing will happen to Corps Members in this kingdom and even in Ondo State l can assure you of their safety. The NYSC Scheme has to be a pride of the nation because it is uniting us”, he said.

By heNry IBya, MakUrdi

National President, Christian Association of Clergies In Nigeria (CACN), Archbishop Yimam Orkwar,has said Nigeria at 60 would have done perfectly well regarding development in all spheres of the economy and as such like Nigerian civil servants, the country should be preparing for her retirement but expressed worry in the ability of the leadership which he described is like children, who do not know their left from their right, pointing out that the situation has made leadership over the years weak, vulnerable to unpopular decisions.

The clergy, who spoke

Celebrating A Land Flowing With Blood – CACN Presidentas guest preacher at t i n t e r d e n o m i n a t i o n a l independence anniversary thanksgiving service to mark Nigeria at 60, organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State chapter, in conjunction with the Benue State Government held at the IBB square Makurdi, on the theme: “Only God Can Tell”, noted with sadness that the country at 60, was still struggling with challenges of corruption, tribal sentiments, ethnicity, and insecurity pointing out that life has become meaningless.

He said” when people escape being killed by Boko Haram, they are either killed by Fulani herdsmen, terrorist, armed robbers or kidnappers.”

“Leadership has been skewed along tribal, religious and ethnic sentiments which is abberrant to the vision of our founding fathers, built on trust, peaceful coexistence love and unity”.

According to the former chairman, CAN Benue chapter, Nigeria should no longer boast as the giant of Africa, when the current rate of poverty caused by unpopular policies such the increase in the pump price of PMS and electricity tariff which has caused untold hardship to citizens, stating that economically the country has collapsed.

The Archbishop of the All Nation’s Evangelism Ministries also expressed disappointment that the government of

president Muhammadu Buhari, which has made more noise on the fight against corruption was the most badly hit, pointing out that under his nose Mr Ibrahim Magu,a man he trusted so much got himself in enmeshed in alleged corruption.

The Archbishop, further expressed displeasure that in Nigeria, the gravity of punishment to offenders depends on either tribe, religion or ethnicity recalling that though he was not in support of criminality, the recent killing of Benue’s most wanted criminal, Terwase Akwaza alias Gana, by the military after he had embraced amnesty was viewed in many quarters with suspicion.

During separate visits to the 32 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Owena, Akure; Ondo State Command of the Department of State Services and the State Police Command, the Director-General appealed to the agencies to provide adequate security for all Corps Members before, during, and after the election.

In their responses, the Brigade Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Zakari Abubakar; Director, Department of State Services, Mr. Emmanuel Esomonu, and State Commissioner of Police, Mr Salami Amidu Bolaji all assured that measures had been put for the protection of all Corps Members during the election.

Earlier in the day, the Director-General addressed the Corps members that will serve as election officials urging them to abide by the electoral laws, be security conscious, and avoid infractions.

Ondo Polls: Nysc seeks Protection For corps Members

R-L: Chairman NDLEA Colonel Mustapha Abdullahi (rtd); Chairman House Commitee on Drugs and Narcotics, Hon. Francis Agbo and Deputy Chairman on Drugs and Narcotics, Hon. Abdulkadir Sarki during a one day sensitization workshop on drug abuse and rape at the National Assembly on Wednesday, September 30. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA



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By Mustapha suleiMan

As the Ondo governorship election inches closer, there is a clear indication that the incumbent governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu would win the election billed for October 10, AljazirahNigeria Octopus in its usual prompt prediction has asserted.

He would work his way to Ondo Government House by clinching the election against his closest opponent and second –time rival Mr. Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who had also contested against the incumbent governor in the election of 2016 but was defeated in that outing.

From independent polls conducted by AljazirahNigeria among other criteria, including stakeholders’ assessment, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu would beat his opponents by a 40% margin, leaving his many opponents, including Jegede and the Deputy Governor, Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, and others to share the remaining 60%.

Ajayi, the deputy governor had on the onset of the current electioneering process deserted the APC and joined the PDP where he lost the primary election to Jegede. Unsatisfied with that status, he rushed to pick a gubernatorial ticket from the Zenith Labour Party, a platform floated by his erstwhile godfather and former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

Outside the Octopus prediction; pundits aver that given Mimiko’s waning political profile and his weak outing in the last senatorial election where he failed to make an impact, Ajayi like his master, would be an underdog as far as the coming election is concerned. With an ostensibly weak and unpopular platform like the ZLP, it is clear that Ajayi would face an uphill task in convincing the ever discerning Ondo electorates to earn their votes.

For Akeredolu, he would rely essentially on the often-touted ‘power of incumbency’, adding to his political war chest his now strong financial base and the support likely from other APC governors and the central organ of the party.

It is also assumed that the APC, having lost the just recently concluded Edo governorship election held September 16 would not want to play a second fiddle in the Ondo election coming barely less than one month after. Losing this time in Ondo would affect its schemes for 2023 when it would want to take another grip at the presidency which has been in its kitty since 2015 when it captured power from the now opposition PDP.

APC is still licking its wounds from the Edo governorship election as a number of pitfalls have been identified for its poor outing against the PDP.

However, Governor Akeredolu has been relentless in pushing for his re-election and how relevant he is in the current scheme of things. He has been telling the youth of Ondo alias the Sunshine State, that the focus of his second term is to create jobs through industrialization, entrepreneurship development, building of seaport and bitumen exploration. He prided himself as having done well in the area of infrastructural development.

It is also the position of observers that if the political machine being deployed by both Jegede and Ajayi were collapsed into a single entity with one becoming the other’s running mate, they would have given Akeredolu a run for his money. But that was not to be as both

cover news

men have decided to be their own masters respectively by going solo.

Akeredolu has been fighting hard to remain relevant to a people he has served for nearly four years as governor, pointing at areas he would make a difference this time around.

He also assured that the moribund OluwaGlass, Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of the State, has been resuscitated, adding that the investor the state government is partnering with has paid the first installment of the funds needed to turn the one-time profitable entity to the status its founding fathers had envisaged from onset.

Akeredolu also said that his administration will establish the Ondo State Youth Entrepreneurship Development Agency to see to the policy of job creation through youth entrepreneurship if re-elected.

Akeredolu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said “When I was sworn in 2017, the first executive bill I sent to the Ondo State House of Assembly was the establishment of Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) to see to the policy of investment promotion, business development and wealth creation in our state’’.

Other candidates on the long list of contenders, including the one-time Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, it is a familiar turf having contested against Akerodolu in the last governorship election.

The Ondo governorship election has three major contenders. They include Akeredolu of the APC, the People’s Democratic Party’s

Eyitayo Jegede and Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party.

Agboola Ajayi might push more than Eyitayo Jegede in the coming election, if Agboola Ajayi does the needful, he stands a chance against Rotimi Akeredolu in the election but the odds would not favour him, especially that he has in contemporary times being politically unstable, moving from one party to the other in quick succession. Besides, his stand-alone posture from his senatorial zone without an alliance across other divides may mar his chances in favour of Akeredolu.

Indeed, sifting from political permutations, the power of incumbency might also come into play in Akeredolu`s re-election as he has the paraphernalia of state at his beck and call. He would also rely on the pockets of support he would garner from the Central and Southern senatorial zones to shore up the majority votes he would definitely tally from his northern zone of the state -his own constituency.

The candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, for the Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, has vowed to defeat the candidates of APC and PDP in the forthcoming election.

Ajayi, who is the Deputy Governor of the state, gave reasons he will emerge victorious in the October 10, governorship election.

According to him, his former party, the APC and the governor had failed the people.

He accused the ruling party and the Governor of lackluster performance, adding that the “PDP had no structure to win election in Ondo State.”

The deputy governor also accused the PDP, a party he joined and was defeated at the primaries of having breached the zoning arrangement of the party and would, therefore, be punished by voters.

According to Ajayi, who dumped the APC following a long battle with the Governor, said; “The achievements of Akeredolu in the last three and a half years fell short of people’s expectations”.

The Deputy Governor said the people of Ondo State would punish the incumbent Governor with their votes.

Meanwhile, many were injured as PDP, APC supporters clashed in Ondo last week.

Both parties confirmed the clash, with each accusing the other of masterminding the violence which occurred last at Ipele and Owo towns, leaving several persons injured and vehicles damaged.

A statement by Kayode Fasua, the spokesman for the Eyitayo Jegede campaign, said the convoy of the PDP candidate, Jegede

was attacked in Ipele and Owo township in Owo Local Government by heavily armed APC political thugs.

He said PDP was the target of the ruling APC, knowing that it was set to send it packing from the government house.

A PDP member, Amuda Sikiru, was shot in the face and abdomen during the party’s campaign rally in Owo town by the APC thugs, according to reports.

Mr. Fasua also said the victim was rushed to the state’s specialist hospital in Akure.

According to him, two other PDP supporters, Taye Akintufede and Seun Ogunlade, were also shot.

“Besides, some of our campaign vehicles were damaged, as was witnessed in Oba-Akoko community recently,” the PDP campaign spokesman said.

“One of the convoy’s campaign trucks was completely burnt down.

“Earlier in the day, the same APC armed hoodlums had blocked the entry point to Ipele community, Jegede’s own area.

“This spate of attacks on our members by the ruling party in the state is threatening the peace of the state and is apparently intended to cause violence ahead of the October 10, governorship election.

But the Akeredolu campaign spokesman, Olatunde Olabode, disputed the claims.

He said Mr. Jegede: “Ordered his thugs to unleash coordinated attacks on the innocent people of Ipele and Ijebu in Owo Local Government Area”.

While expectations in some quarters that there would be a re-enactment of the Edo governorship election scenario in Ondo State where the APC lost to the PDP, such enthusiasm are being dismissed as likely in Ondo because the forces at play are entirely different except for one factor- the crave for the various stakeholders to work for the victory of their respective parties and show the ruling APC the exit door from government house.

List of governorship candidatesThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently unveiled the list of 17 candidates, their running mates as well as parties running for the Ondo State Governorship election. The parties include the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).The incumbent governor Rotimi Akeredolu is seeking a second term in office under the banner of the APC while his major challenger is Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP. Jegede was the runner-up in the 2016 election in the state.

Others on the list are:Rotimi Adeleye Akindejoye – Accord PartyJoshua Oluwafemi Adewole -Action Alliance (AA)Adeleye Adekunle Peter – African Action Congress (AAC)Adelegan Adedapo Oluwaseyi – African Democratic Congress (ADC) Funmilayo Jenyo Ataunoko – National Rescue Movement (NRM)Babatunde Francis Alli – Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)Fasua Peter Oyeleye – Social Democratic Party (SDP)Ojon Dotun – Young Progressive Party (YPP)Aboola Ajayi – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)



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When I was sworn in 2017, the first executive bill I sent to the Ondo State House of Assembly was the establishment of Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA)

“

Akeredolu Jegede





Ondo Election: Again, Octopus Predicts OutcomeAs AljazirahNigeria octopus was on point on Edo election

By MariaM Sanni

A vast majority of Nigerians are hungry as the cost of living has never been so high, and the people are complaining aloud. Mostly affected are essential food items which prices have risen beyond the income of many Nigerians. As prices rise, unemployment, and under-employment continue to increase. Factory wind-up is no longer news, and micro businesses are recording hard times. For the government, however, the story is different.

COVID-19 has had a dire effect on global economies. Rising infection rates have led to social distancing directives, persistent lockdowns, the closing of businesses, travel restraints, salary cuts, and a looming high unemployment situation. Economic activity has shrunk drastically, and with it the food supply value chain globally.

The story for Nigeria has been no different. The country has instituted a range of measures to curb the pandemic. These have included waves of lockdowns in major cities, border closures and people’s movement being restricted, compulsory wearing of face masks and frequent hand washing with sanitizers. The pandemic with its attending protocols have affected all sectors of the economy.

Employers in different sectors of the economy have disengaged workers to mitigate the negative effect of coronavirus pandemic on their ventures.

However, at least N107.45 billion has been accessed by beneficiaries from the N1.15 trillion Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s COVID-19 pandemic intervention funds within the last 90 days, data by the apex bank has indicated.

The data showed that close to 6,000 beneficiaries, comprising organisations and individuals, had accessed the loans so far. Reports from across the country revealed that workers have been disengaged from aviation, hospitality, banking, construction, manufacturing, media and sales and services sectors.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, reported over the weekend that 42% of Nigerian workers lost their jobs as a result of the impact of COVID-19, diminishing incomes of 79% of households in Nigeria.

The media sector, according to some journalists and industry watchers, is currently grappling with several problems, ranging from COVID-19 pandemic, depleted funds due to the lockdown across major cities, loss of revenue due to lower ad sales, looming job loss, and salaries slashed, among others.

The staff of most of the print news platforms is going through bad times. While a lot of them were informed of salary cuts from April 2020, till further notice, some have lost their jobs as their employers embarked on “Operation Cut Cost at all Cost”.

First, it was an increase of Value Added Tax, VAT, from five to 7.5%, followed by resuscitation of Stamp Duty Charge, all in the bid to boost internally generated revenue in the midst of dwindling foreign earnings from crude oil. This year also witnessed the introduction of Stamp Duty on house rents and C of O transactions.

But the hike in the price of petrol and the cost of electricity within a space of two weeks appears to be the tipping point. For a people most of who had all along complained of not receiving

government assistance or palliative during the lockdown period, had to take pay cuts or lost their means of livelihood, these hikes, coming at a time they were gradually getting back to a new normal life is unimaginable.

Nigerians can no longer hold their emotions, as President Muhammadu Buhari increased the fuel price and electricity tariff to N151 and N66 respectively.

The rate at which prices of foodstuffs continue to escalate in the country is now attracting serious attention, while also noting that the federal government has failed to establish a well-coordinated price control agency to regulate prices of foodstuffs in the country.

Survey reveals that a bag of rice which was now being sold at the price of N25,000, while the same bag is being sold at the price of N35,000. Also, a survey conducted on commodity price in Kano revealed that at the Dawanau World Grain Market, a 100kg bag of rice popularly known as Jamila, is sold at N54, 000 or more, while a 100kg bag of beans is sold at N21, 000.

Similarly, a 100kg bag of old maize is sold at N22, 000 and that of newly harvested maize is sold at N18, 500. A 100kg bag of millet goes for N20, 000 and a 100kg of garri is sold at N18, 500. An average tuber of yam goes for N650.

Manufacturers will easily give a reason, if asked, why they had to increase prices. The building materials sector isn’t left out as the cost of materials has also increased.

The price of 40 tons of granite, for instance, went up from N65, 000 to N85, 000.

At parks drivers conveying items to end-users were of the opinion that the increase was overdue owing to the rising price of petroleum products and the activities of extortionist security officials.

As for electricity, authorities have approved a rise in rates starting September, although a previous tariff hike slated for July 1 was halted by Nigeria’s parliament.

Power distribution companies had been asked to put off any tariff increase until the first quarter of 2021 due to “the current economic challenges in Nigeria,”

However, consumers, except those receiving less than 12 hours of supply, will have to pay more for electricity starting from Sept. 1, the report said.

For labour activists, lawyer, public affairs analysts, student leaders and other Nigerians, who have bemoaned the rise in the cost of living due the resuscitation of the Stamp Duty Charge, hike in VAT, the recent increase in electricity tariff and petrol pump price amid the ravaging coronavirus (COVID-19) is already making life unbearable.

The Chairman of the Group, Abbas Olusola-Alabi, said that his members were already overwhelmed by series of levies they encounter on the highways; transporting goods from places of cultivation to the cities where they were needed.

The association’s spokesman, Mr. James Kadiri, who admonished members not to increase prices on old stocks until new stocks, said that Nigerians would be the worse for it.

“Both the buyer and seller are at the receiving end of the fuel increase because the price rise in food items is imminent and this will reduce dealers sellers volume and unsettle people who cannot buy what they needs.

“Our economy transcend fuel hike every now and then, it is not ideal; I wonder how anybody can plan for the future when there is uncertainties in all facets of the economy,” he said.The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has condemned the decision of the Abuja Electricity

Distribution Company, AEDC, to implement a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within its service area from September 1, 2020. In a statement by its President, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said it would reject any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress.

According to Wabba, the move is against the resolution of the Senate and Federal Government’s directive that the plans by DisCos to hike electricity tariff be suspended till next year.

In the release titled: “Increase in electricity tariff by Abuja DisCo - a taunting of the will of Nigerian people gone too far,” NLC noted that the new plan by AEDC was “dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people. It appears that the adamant desire of DisCos in Nigeria to ram through their ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through astronomical tariff increase amidst a plummeting return on service delivery has now been deregulated.

“Each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria is trailed by huge leap in hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing, and increased burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DisCos to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians,” Wabba added.

The leaders of the labour unions had announced their readiness to stage protests and embark on a nationwide strike on Monday, September 28, 2020, if the government fails to revert hikes.

This follows the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the organized labour during the meeting held by both parties which started on Sunday night and dragged on till the early hours of Monday morning, the NLC and TUC suspended the planned nationwide protest.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern about the surge in food prices, “at a time when the economy is already mired in a slowdown occasioned by the global coronavirus situation,” his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has said. Mr. Shehu said the president was already looking for ways to mitigate the problem. He has expressed concern about the surge in food prices, “at a time when the economy is already mired in a slowdown occasioned by the global coronavirus situation,” his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has said.

Mr. Shehu said the president was already looking for ways to mitigate the problem.

The president assures Nigerians that the situation is transient. His administration has already begun looking and putting in place measures to ameliorate the situation.

While providence has been kind to us with the rains and as such an expectation that a bumper harvest would lead to crashing of food prices and ease the burdens on the population, government’s concern is that the exploitative market behaviour by actors has significantly increased among traders in the past few years and may make any such relief a short lived one.

This year has indeed tested us in ways that globalisation has never been tested since the turn of the century. These challenges have disrupted lives and supply chains all over the world, and Nigeria has not been spared.

Pandemic Adds To Poverty, As Nigerians Groan

Employers in different sectors of the economy have disengaged workers to mitigate the negative effect of coronavirus pandemic on their ventures.

“



@aljazirahnewsng


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“I didn’t have money to go to the hospital during pregnancy. I ended up losing my baby.” These were the heart breaking words of Fatima Bala, an Internally Displaced Person, IDPs, living in Tudun Munstira in Karmajiji, a community along Airport Road in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Fatima was a few months along when the COVID-19 lockdown was ordered by the federal government. At that period, her husband who was a commercial motorcycle rider could not bring money home as passengers were at home due to the lockdown. Her pregnancy was a complicated one. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, diabetes identified for the first time during pregnancy (gestation).

Fatima who was visibly in pain, as she narrated her story, stated that she was unable to visit the hospital, because of lack of money. Her baby ended up being stillborn. When labour started, she revealed that she was taken to a government hospital in Kuchingoro but because the Resident doctors were on strike then, she was referred to a private hospital.

“No one was able to save my baby. Due to the diabetes, the baby was large,” she lamented as she displayed the picture of the baby that could pass up for a nine- months-old baby from her phone. The baby would have been her seventh child.

She added that she needed injections to treat the diabetes but could not afford them; “I could not afford the injections. I am presently on drugs. But I am feeling pains all over my body, especially my waist.”

She further stated that if there were no complications in her pregnancy, she would have given birth with the local birth attendant who had handled many of the pregnancy cases in the area.

Fatima who is one of the IDPs that fled their homes in Gwoza, Borno State after Boko

Haram attacked their town in 2014, revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened their conditions as their means of livelihood was cut short adding that they were just living one day at a time, hoping that they will be able to return to their ancestral home soon.

“We came here because of Boko Haram. This place was bushy and we didn’t know the land owner but we settled here. We don’t know our fate here but we are just living and hoping that we will not be evicted”, she said.

Corroborating her story, Khadijat Abubakar, a 27-year-old mother of five, said their major needs were food and healthcare. She said the closest primary healthcare centre to them was not functional and the next closest hospital was in Kuchingoro, which is a bit far from Karon-Majiji where she resides.

“We don’t have a good primary health care center here. When my children and I fall sick, I buy small drugs from the ‘Chemist shop’ in my area,” she said.

Khadijat lamented that due to lack of money, worsened by the COVID-19 lockdown, she had to give birth to her child at the home of a local birth attendant in the Angwan Gwuragu area.

“I didn’t go to the hospital because I didn’t

have money. This is because since the lockdown there are no menial jobs to do and my husband who is doing Okada business could not really work as he used to. It has been God helping us,” she said.

She revealed that the women in the camp go to the local birth attendant to deliver their adding that no one goes for antennal due to lack of money.

Khajidat further stated that though the birth attendant’s home was not safe for birth, the women had no other option as they paid less money than they would have paid in the hospital.

Narrating how she gave birth to her child, Khadijat stated: “When she (the birth attendant) gave me something in a drip, my baby immediately began to turn and in a few minutes I gave birth. Women who give birth successfully pay her N5,000 but if the baby dies she doesn’t collect money.

“I don’t know where she learnt her job. Her place is not safe. I don’t know the kind of medicine she put in the drip she gave me because my fifth child was my first experience with her. I went to her because it was during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

“Women and children are dying at the local birth attendant place while giving birth and this is scary. So many women are scared but lack of money makes them keep trying their luck. I was lucky to give birth successfully but I was also scared.”

Responding to question on why they take the risk of patronising a local birth attendant even when they have recorded deaths, Khadijat said, “The primary health centre collects N8,000 for delivery but when you go there they will give you a list of things to buy which will cost over N10,000 and we don’t have over N20,000 to pay. That is why we go to Angwan Gwuragu.”

Khadijat ponders the type of future she will

leave for her children if she could not even afford a proper feeding for them. The 27-year-old mother, whose first child will soon turn nine years, revealed that she was married off by her parents immediately she turned 18 adding that she had regrets not going to school and being properly educated.

The 27-year-old lamented that if she had been properly educated, she would have had a better life and improved standard of living, adding that life has been so difficult for her family and her.

According to her, her parents married her off early because they were poor and could not afford to train her in school.

“School is very important in every woman’s life because life is not easy right now. If I was educated, I would have helped my children better. Look at me I’m just 27-years-old and I have five children already because all our husbands want is children,” she said.

Khajidat who had graduated from secondary school before she got married, however stated that she was working very hard to change the education status of children in the camp with her little knowledge. She had taken it upon herself to teach children at the camp for a little fee of N50 per child, just to ensure the children have an education.

“My first child is nine while my baby is seven months but their education gives me concern and that is why I teach them and so other parents encourage me to start lessons to teach their children to read and write and they pay N50 daily per child.

“I teach them English, Maths, Social studies, Home economics, Literature and other subjects, due to how they children were enjoying the learning the Chairman of the camp built us a small classroom and I hope to do better with the job,” she said.

“Boko Haram doesn’t believe in education. They say it is Haram but they speak the English language. It doesn’t add up at all. I really want to go back to Goza because it’s not easy here but I hear Boko Haram is still killing people.

Many of the women in the camp who spoke with AljazirahNigeria revealed how shocked they were to encounter terrible situations after coming to the capital city, a place they thought help would come easily.

One of these women, Ramatu Adamu, also from Goza in Borno State, said that the lack of easy access to a health facility is the least she had expected living in Abuja, the nation’s capital where she believed there should be amenities.

“The IDPs in Borno State are well catered for. Here, we don’t have easy access to hospitals. Yet we live in the same city where President Mohammed Buhari lives,” she said.

Narrating how she came to Abuja, Ramatu said; “I ran to Abuja because Boko Haram was killing people. I really want to go back home if the government can help restore peace to my village because life here is very difficult especially when it comes to access to health.”

Every day, many women die in Nigeria due to complications from childbirth. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) between 2005 and 2015, over 600,000 maternity deaths and no less than 900,000 maternity near-miss cases have occurred in Nigeria. These cases are mostly cases which would have been avoided if the governments have been doing their bit in providing the necessary health services not just for pregnant women but the family in general.

These IDPs are mostly calling for help from the government to ensure that their land is safe for them to return to.

“At least there, we have our lands to cultivate in. We will survive better there. As we try to survive here though, we need access to health so that our women cannot depend mostly on traditional birth attendance. When there are complications, we fear for our women and children,” Abubakar Ibrahim, another IDP in the camp stated.

Pregnant IDPs At The Mercy Of Local Birth Attendants

So many women are scared but lack of money makes them keep trying their luck. I was lucky to give birth successfully but I was also scared.

“

Many pregnant women in the country die due to complications from childbirth. Most times, these complications would have been detected if they had gone for antenatal. CHIKA MEFOR-NWACHUKWU

writes on how poverty, caused by the COVID-19 lockdown has left internally displaced persons at the mercy of local birth attendants.



@aljazirahnewsng


Follow us on twitterspecial reportOctober 5 – October 11, 2020




By Ruth GBaka

Celebration should necessarily be associated with joy, happiness and smiles on the faces of the merrymakers. The climax sometimes is the clinking of glasses and toast of achievements and successes recorded. In Nigeria, October 1, has come to be associated with everything memorable as Nigerians of all hues, notwithstanding ethnic and religious background, sink their differences to celebrate the nation in commemoration of its independence from the rule of colonial British on the same day in 1960.

This year’s event is no less significant in any guise except for the economic downturn that may have rubbed off on the celebrations at both individual and collective levels. The Federal Government has said the event will be devoid of the elaborate fanfare associated with October 1, in the past as it would be celebrated on a low-key.

As usual, it is a moment for momentous and hopeful speech from the incumbent president to give a fillip to the Independence Day anniversary celebration. In addition to such colourful speech is the hoisting of the national flag, followed by other ceremonials and the singing of the national anthem.

However, this time around, in spite of the ravages of the dreaded Covid-19, not a few Nigerians were seen celebrating, expressing optimism of a better post-independent Nigeria. There were expressions of Nigerians of joy, hope and pride in the country. After the official event, further celebrations were performed by citizens putting aside tribe, culture and religion.

This year’s event was indeed marked by various activities to commemorate the day, as merrymaking dotted various locations across the country and also the Federal Capital Territory.

To add colour to the day, Nigerians and very

friendly countries embassies adorned their offices with the “Green and White” decoration to salute the nation at 60.The popular tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa of the UAE was lit up with the Nigerian colours of green and white sighted on Aljazeera Television. So many country heads sent in their goodwill messages including the Queen of England.

It’s usually a remarkable day for both adults and children. School children doing various matches pass in their beautiful well starched uniforms waving the Nigerian flag with utmost pride and joy with the message of unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country. A day where patriotic stories about the country and individuals as well as groups who worked tirelessly to ensure the progress of the country is shared with so much hope. Nigerians around the globe over the years have given each other the reason to be proud of their country on each

independent day celebration.Most clubs and social centers host events

in line with the independence day celebration, while some clubs offer women free entries whereas some people go to parks and gardens with friends and families to share the traditional meal of “Jollof rice and chicken or stew” all these in the merry spirit of the independence day, with little adherence to covid-19 protocols.

Over the years through the difficult times and economy, Nigerians have found ways to keep hopes alive for a better Nigeria as they celebrate the independent day each year since Nigeria got her independence in 1960.

October 1, 2020 which marks Nigeria @ 60 independence at a time when the Government’s main economic strategy is anchored on diversification of the economic base away from oil dependency ruled by the president Mohamadu Buhari regime has raised a lot of questions and concerns on the general mood of Nigerians this year particularly in the city of Abuja, where the seat of power resides.

Speaking with some Nigerians in Abuja on how they celebrated Nigeria at 60, it was a mixed-grill of hope, reminiscence and despair.

Mr. Anthony Ukem who hails from Delta State but resides in Abuja was upbeat about a nation with a bright future.

He said: “Nothing good comes easy, Nigeria is getting there and I believe that no matter the struggles, we will get there. We are still growing, other developed countries didn’t get to where they are today overnight, of course everyone wants things to come to them on a platter of gold, but we have to be patient”. He said encouragingly: “It might not be easy but we will get there. Another respondent said:“Personally, I thank God that we are alive to see this day, it’s like since the country got her independence, it seems nothing is moving anymore like we are not growing. Most of the things that were on before are not there anymore. But it seems

the railway system is gradually coming back on tracks. The trucks are carrying more goods than they are supposed to, thereby putting more pressure and damaging the roads. Since things are not working as they are supposed to, there is an increase in crime. People are not happy. The bottom scratch of pots of food which is normally given to animals, are now the toast of many people who relish eating the same because of the dire times we are in. People are not looking happy; children’s school fees are not being paid. Most of the people in the country are corrupt. Once someone is opportune to become, say, a position like director somewhere, you see the whole family moving around such an individual to collect hand outs from such a person, so much that the pressure becomes and they start diverting funds into private accounts. We are not growing. I was born 1964, am over 50 years, and I remember when I did my primary school, the government would provide everything from uniforms to even transportation when you are traveling. As much as I am happy to see this day, I wish Nigerian will grow from this stage we are to the next level and I believe we would”, Alhaji Usman Abdukadir enthused.

Also expressing his disposition on the 2020 Independence Day, Musa Mohammed a taxi driver said; “There is nothing to celebrate Nigeria for this year. We are suffering! He said angrily. “I left my wife and two children in the house with no food, today am supposed to be resting, but if I decide to rest, where will the food come from? I am one of the people who trekked in 2015 to vote for Buhari, but now am regretting it and this might be the last time I will vote for anyone in the country during elections, I will sit in my house, if whoever wins, so be it”, he said furiously.

Mrs. Jospehine Adebola, a trader, stated: “I have lost hope in Nigeria, to be honest; Buhari was the only person I thought was going to make our country better. I remember when in 2015 during the elections, I and my fellow market women went out together to vote for him. We were so convinced that things will be better, but what have we gotten, nothing. The prices of ordinary foodstuffs have gone up so much that even we that are selling are not finding it easy to sell.

“I am buying a small basket of tomatoes at 6000 naira, tell me how am supposed to make profit with this, yet people come and still price so poorly, and you can’t blame them because most of them, by mere looking at them, you will know they don’t have the money to buy. As we are buying, we are selling it at giveaway prices, it’s just to survive. So, tell me why I should celebrate Nigeria today? What has Nigeria done for me? Honestly, I have lost hope”, she said, walking away.

Indeed the atmosphere of the independence day has not been all fun filled, judging from the mood of a cross-section of some persons walking the streets with no sign being in any festive mode from their gazes.

However, protests by some civil society organizations led by notable human rights activists including Omoyele Sowore, Aisha Yesufu, Deji Adeyanju, Henry Shield, Adebayo Raphael and Ariyo Dare Atoye in (CSO)in Abuja city Centre(ACC) condemning the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, especially in the recent fuel hike and electricity tariff.

Despite the gloomy atmosphere in Abuja amidst the celebration, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has urged Nigerians to take strides in nation building and march to a brighter future adding that it’s a moment to pay tribute to the great men and women who have made sacrifices to bring us to where we are today as a nation.

“It is a trying time for everyone, but together and with hope, things will surely be better, he preached.

Independence Anniversary: A Mix-grill Of Optimism, Despair

Over the years through the difficult times and economy, Nigerians have found ways to keep hopes alive for a better Nigeria as they celebrate the independent day each year since Nigeria got her independence in 1960.

“

Buhari



@aljazirahnewsng


Follow us on twitterspecial reportOctober 5 – October 11, 202012 www.aljazirahnews.com



By Cyril Ogar

It would be right to say that 2020 is a year that the labour movement in Nigeria laboured almost in futility. Major events that shaped the direction of the nation where labour remained docile included, but not limited to the increment in the pump price of petrol, PMS, from N138 per litre to N162. Labour failed to sway a reduction in the fixed price, the non-payment of salaries at the state and federal levels and failure to raise a committee for the negotiation of the minimum wage.

In fact, labour did not only fail to better the standard of living of Nigerian workers, but it was a house that has sharply been divided against self. The Nigeria Labour Congress ,NLC, which is still seen as the major labour centre failed to put an end to the bitterness that the last delegates’ conference in 2015 engendered.

The Nigeria Labour Congress ,NLC, had insisted on going ahead with its earlier planned strike and protest, with effect from September 28, 2020, following the failure of the Federal Government to reverse the increases in electricity tariff and fuel price.

The recent suspension of the planned nationwide protest has left many Nigerians more confused.

AljazirahNigeria sources reveal how the leadership of the NLC betrayed the trust reposed in them by workers and citizens at large to strike a deal with the Nigerian Government that saw to the cancellation of the planned protest and industrial action scheduled to take place across the country.

Following the increase in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit widely known as petrol and electricity tariff by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the NLC, Trade Union Congress and other groups across the country had vowed to lead Nigerians in protest and indefinite strike action to condemn the move by the government.

The pump price of petrol was increased from N145 to N160 per litre while electricity tariff was pushed up from N30.23 for one kilowatt, kwh, unit of energy per hour to N58.33 per kwh.

According to Nigerians, who were outraged by the decision, the increment of both items came at a time individuals and households were struggling to recover from months of lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus outbreak.

The organised labour after failing to get the government to reverse its decision after initial meetings, fixed Monday, September 28, for the commencement of industrial action despite a court order restraining the NLC and TUC from going ahead with the action.

However, on Monday morning, Nigerians woke up to the news of the suspension of the protest and industrial action by the organised labour.

The Government in return suspended the new electricity tariff for two weeks and established a joint Committee headed by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyami, to examine the justification for the new policy.

Facts available to AljazirahNigeria indicate that the leadership of NLC sold out and struck a deal with the government that offered no benefit for the people.

According to our source, none of the demands tabled by labour was met by the Nigerian Government yet the NLC leaders went ahead to call off the planned strike action.

The move has raised suspicion of something changing hands and the sincerity of labour leaders to workers and citizens in general, which look up to them to hold the government to account.

None of their requests were met. This is an endorsement of petrol price increase for now and future rather than a pushback.

“The leadership of TUC was isolated at the last minute to achieve their dastardly act. Affiliate unions never trusted the NLC leadership and that was why they issued individual circulars. The leadership of NLC never mobilised units and affiliates even though they claimed there would be a strike. There were lots of underhand dealings between NLC leaders and governors who helped facilitate settlements.

There wasn’t supposed to be a meeting between labour leaders and the Federal Government until 3:00pm on Monday but NLC leaders suddenly agreed to a series of meetings with the government on Sunday to kill the strike,” one source said.

Recall that in 2016 the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had refused to participate in the NLC’s four-day national strike against increment in the price of petrol that resulted in the ‘defeat’ of labour in the struggle.

Indeed, that was the first time in the history of labour strikes against fuel price increases that a sitting President failed to spearhead a discussion with labour during strike action.

Not only did President Muhammadu Buhari fail to discuss labour, he did not speak on the increment.

Also, part of the monumental failure of labour is their inability to ensure the government raised a panel on the minimum wage as well as successfully negotiate palliative measures for workers as a result of the hike in the price of petrol eight months after the increase.

The Trade Union Congress is the biggest partaker in the conspiracy of silence that has pushed labour into extermination under the current government. The silence of TUC on all policies that were deemed anti-workers was so deafening that Pa Michael Imoudu (Labour number one) and the late Pascal Bafyau would be restless in their graves.

But for occasional statements on national issues, labour was literally ‘dead’ to its responsibilities in 2016 and TUC was a major culprit.

In conformity with labour tradition, TUC chose the New Year message to Nigerian workers to explain away its indifference all year long.

Recalling that for the first time in the history of the labour union in Nigeria, a strike was called by the NLC but was disregarded by the masses the labour union claimed to be fighting for, something must have gone wrong.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has come under attack for suspending planned nationwide strike over the increase in petrol and electricity tariff.

Nigerians across various walks of life have expressed mixed feelings over the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress , NLC, and Trade Union Congress , TUC, to call off the planned strike.

They described the union’s decisions as a betrayal of trust and accused them of selling out.

After a long-drawn negotiation, the unions’ leadership backed down on the planned anti-fuel price/electricity tariff hike.

The new agreement, according to the Minister of Labour and Employment (State) Festus Keyamo involves the suspension of the new electricity tariff hike for two weeks.

The agreement has stirred reactions and criticisms from Nigerians on social media, who accused the NLC leaders of not being in support of the masses.

Some accused the labour Union leaders of being bribed, adding that suspension of electricity tariff was just one demand out of many concerns raised by Nigerians.

Also, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties ,CNPP has said it was “not disappointed that the labour unions in the country bowed at

the last minute as usual as it has long become their trademark.”

CNPP in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said: “We expected that this would happen and that was why the CNPP opted to rally civil society movements across the country.

“We are monitoring the situation and rejigging our plans in view of the now obvious reality that the ordinary citizens who cannot travel to Abuja are on their own.

“In the last five years, the Nigerian Labour Congress ,NLC, and the Trade Union Congress ,TUC, have remained toothless bulldogs and compromised the arm of the government.

“The suffering masses who believed the labour unions can now continue to suffer, while all voices are shut.

“Following the current compromise and sell out, we advise Nigerians never to take the labour unions seriously until there is a rebirth when these current leaders of the unions are gone.

“We join the Nigerian people to clearly declare that we have completely lost confidence in the current leaders of the labour unions in Nigeria.

For them, getting “palliatives” for the unions is all they want while the masses can continue to suffer. The CNPP calls on all Nigerians not to lose hope in the country. There will be light at the end of the tunnel”, CNPP stressed.

An Abuja resident, Barrister Nnamdi Asomogha said: “Please what ground did the Federal Government yield that led to the suspension of the strike? Suspension of the new electricity tariff by two weeks! This is incredible. Electricity bills come at the end of the month so the suspension is at best deceptive.”

In a similar vein, Comrade Sunday Adeniran said: “I am disappointed. When FG yielded to an increase in pump price and electricity tariff, according to NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the Organised Labour was not consulted.

“When FG heard of the impending shutdown of the economy, Organised Labour was remembered to be existing and hurriedly invited for a negotiation. Sincerely for me, nothing would have stopped the strike, it would have still been embarked upon until FG reverts to what we have always had and then can invite the Organised Labour for consultation.

“The frequency of cancelling planned strikes at the 11th hour is fast eroding the confidence of workers and the masses in the Organised Labour.

NERC suspENds ElECtRiCity tARiff hikE foR 2 wEEksHowever, The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) has ordered the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DiSCOs) to suspend the Sept. 1 tariff increase for 14 days.

The commission’s suspension order of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2020 signed by Prof James Momoh, NERC’s Chairman was released on its web site on Wednesday, September 30.

NERC’s suspension followed a joint communique issued by the Federal Government and the labour unions.

The Federal Government agreed that the recent review in electricity tariffs would be suspended by the commission for a period of 14 days for further consultations and finalisation of negotiations between the parties.

The order by NERC said that from Sept 28 to Oct 11, the DisCos must revert all charges to the tariff existing as of Aug. 31.

“This means that for the next two weeks, electricity consumers having power above 12 hours who were affected by the over 100 per cent tariff hike would revert to their old charges.

It said as empowered by Section 33 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, EPSRA 2005, the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman can issue such a directive to NERC.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Mamman were among the team that met with the labour unions.

How Nlc Betrayed Nigerians Over Planned Strike

The frequency of cancelling planned strikes at the 11th hour is fast eroding the confidence of workers and the masses in the Organised Labour.

“

Citizens slam NLC NERC suspends electricity tariff hike for 2 weeks



@aljazirahnewsng


Follow us on twitterspecial reportOctober 5 – October 11, 2020




"على نحو متغیر ، ستكون ذرتھم أرخص. ال یمكنك مقارنة إنتاجنا

بثالثة أطنان متریة بشخص ینتج ١٢ طنا ، لیست لدینا المیزة النسبیة التي

تمثل تحدیا كبیرا في الواقع.

جدا مقارنة باالقتصادات النامیة األخرى.

"في الوقت الحالي ، ننتج فقط ما بین طنین إلى ثالثة أطنان متري لكل ھكتار. إذا تمكنا من نقلھ حتى إلى سبعة أطنان ، فسیكون ذلك أفضل

ألنھ في بعض االقتصادات األخرى ، ینتجون ١٠ إلى ١٢ طنا متریا لكل

ھكتار.

قال.

"لذلك ، نحتاج حقا إلى االستثمار في البحوث الزراعیة حتى نتمكن من

تحسین محصولنا"

الرئیس ، الذي أشاد بالحكومة لتحریر قطاع البترول ، حدد الغذاء باعتباره الحاجة األعلى في التسلسل

الھرمي للسكان التي تحتاج إلى الدعم.

قال مام إن دعم قطاع الزراعة من شأنھ أن یحشد عددا كبیرا من

النیجیریین إلى المزارع ، وسیكون الطعام دائما أرخص ، ویمكن

الوصول إلیھ بسھولة ، مع تداول أكثر من كاف.

كما دعا إلى االستثمار في البحوث الزراعیة.

یقول مام ، في الوقت الحالي ، إن العائد لكل ھكتار في نیجیریا منخفض

فضال عن خلق بیئة مواتیة للمزارعین من خالل ضمان حد أدنى

للسعر لمنتجاتھم.

وأكد السید حزقیال مام ، الرئیس الوطني للجمعیة الذي أجرى المكالمة أثناء حدیثھ مع الجزیرة النیجیریة في

أبوجا یوم الخمیس في ذكرى االستقالل الستین لنیجیریا ، أن ھذه

البادرة ستحسن نوعیة حیاة المواطنین.

شجب مام التكلفة المرتفعة للفرد في اقتصاد الدولة في الوقت الحالي ،

قائال إنھا مرتفعة للغایة بحیث ال تجذب المستثمرین.

دعت جمعیة الدواجن النیجیریة (PAN) الحكومة الفیدرالیة للتدخلفي القطاع الزراعي من خالل دعم

إنتاج الغذاء من أجل تقلیل تكلفة التغذیة.

وطالب بتخفیض تكلفة رأس المال ،

جمعیة الدواجن تحث أف جي على دعم إنتاج الغذاء

یتبرع الحكام بـ١٠٠٠٠٠٠٠٠ نایرا لحكومة بورنو

مركز تعلیم الفتیات یوزع ٩٠٠٠ إذاعة تعمل بالطاقة الشمسیة للمراھقات في غومبي

نیجیریا في الستین منعمرھا: وكالة التوجیھ الوطني ترید تجدید الوطنیة

تبرع منتدى محافظي نیجیریا (NGF) بـ ١٠٠٠٠٠٠٠٠ نایرا إلى

حكومة بورنو.

وقال بیان صادر في أبوجا یوم األربعاء من قبل رئیس اإلعالم

عبد ، NGF والشؤون العامة فيالرزاق بیلو باركیندو ، إن التبرع تم وحاكم NGF تقدیمھ من قبل رئیس

إكیتي ، كایود فایمي.

وتذكر فاییمي كیف حاول زولم ثنیھم عن زیارة والیتھ ، وقال إنھ أصر

على أن ذلك لم یكن مجرد واجب بل ھو الشيء األكثر واقعیة ألن

"الھجوم على شخص ما ھو ھجوم على الجمیع".

ووعد الحاكم بالحذر في الطریقة التي یجتاز بھا والیتھ.

وكان برفقة فاییمي حاكم والیة سوكوتو ورئیس منتدى محافظي الحزب الدیمقراطي الشعبي أمینو تامبوال. رئیس منتدى المحافظین

التقدمیین السناتور أبو بكر باجودو.

وقال فایمي الذي یسلم الشیك إلى زولوم إن نیجیریا تدین لشعب بورنو

بواجب إنھاء التمرد والقضاء علیھ في مھده.

وكشفت أن فاییمي زار مایدوجوري للتضامن مع الحاكم باباغانا زولوم بشأن الھجمات األخیرة على موكبھ.

قال زولوم إنھ لن یثني عن متابعة أھدافھ بتحریر شعبھ ، قائال: "األمن

والتنمیة وجھان لعملة واحدة".

ردا على ذلك ، أعرب زولوم عن لإلیماءة NGF تقدیره لمؤسسة

اللطیفة ، قائال إنھا لیست مبلغ المال ، بل اإلیماءة وراء ذلك األمر.

وحث زولم على توخي الحذر في أنشطتھ بالوالیة.

وكان من بین أعضاء الفریق أیضا محافظ بالتو ورئیس منتدى حكام

الشمال سیمون اللونج.

وأثنت على حكومة الوالیة للمساعدة التي قدمتھا للمركز في الوالیة ،

مضیفة أن والیة غومبي ھي واحدة من الدول القلیلة الملتزمة.

وقالت إنھ من خالل الحلقات التي تم تسجیلھا في اإلذاعة المقدمة للفتیات ،

كانت ھناك بعض الجلسات التي تم تدریسھا لألطفال قبل انتشار الوباء ،

خالل الجلسة المدرسیة العادیة لتمكینھم من تعلم كیفیة التفاوض

والتواصل وكیفیة التعامل مع القضایا التي تحدث. في المنزل وكذلك

الحلول.

قالت اآلنسة فیث باوا ، قائدة فریق CGE غومبي ، إن البرنامج یھدف

إلى تعلیم الفتیات المراھقات المھارات األساسیة.

وقال رئیس مجلس نواب والیة غومبي الحاج ابو بكر الصادق

كربالء ان

قال الدكتور إسیاكو محمد ، المستشار الخاص لتخطیط المیزانیة لحاكم والیة غومبي ، أثناء إطالقھ توزیع الرادیو

الذي یعمل بالطاقة الشمسیة ، إن صندوق األمم المتحدة للسكان قام

بشرائھ.

وبحسب قولھ ، فإن الرادیو الذي یعمل بالطاقة الشمسیة سیساعد المستفیدین

على االستماع إلى الحلقة المسجلة في المنزل.

ونصحت الدكتورة مرضیة عباس ، عضو مجلس إدارة المجموعة

(CGE) االستشاریة الحكومیةالمستفیدین بوضع ما تعلموه موضع

التنفیذ.

وأثنى على شركاء التنمیة لما یقومون بھ في والیة غومبي ، وأكد أن الرادیو

سوف یستخدم للغرض المقصود.

أفادت الجزیرة نیجیریا أنھ في دیبا ، مقر یامالتو / دیبا منطقة الحكومة المحلیة بوالیة غومبي ، تم تجنید

المستفیدین من الرادیو في وقت سابق والتسجیل في برنامج الفضاء اآلمن

عبر ثالث مناطق حكومیة محلیة في فوناكاي ویامالتو / دیبا وكالتونغو.

وبالتالي ، جاء توزیع الرادیو الذي یعمل بالطاقة الشمسیة على الفتیات في برنامج الفضاء اآلمن االفتراضي في

أعقاب اتفاقیة موقعة بین صندوق األمم المتحدة للسكان ووزارة

الخارجیة النرویجیة في إطار مشروع مدتھ ثالث سنوات بعنوان "نھج

متكامل لتمكین المراھقات والفتیات.یتم تنفیذ المشروع في والیتي جومبي

وأكوا إیبوم لتعزیز المعلومات حول

، (CGE) قام مركز تعلیم الفتیاتوھو شریك منفذ (IP) لبرنامج

الفضاء اآلمن بتمویل من الحكومة النرویجیة وبدعم من صندوق األمم

المتحدة للسكان ، بتوزیع رادیو یعمل بالطاقة الشمسیة على ٩٠٠٠ مراھقة

في ثالث مناطق حكومیة محلیة في والیة غومبي.

الصحة اإلنجابیة الجنسیة.ویھدف المشروع أیضا إلى تحسین

جودة خدمات الصحة الجنسیة واإلنجابیة ، بما في ذلك تنظیم األسرة

للمراھقات والنساء في سن اإلنجاب.

وأضاف محمد ، منسق أنشطة الجھات المانحة ، أن المشروع الذي بدأ منذ

أكثر من عام ، توقف في أعقاب جائحة فیروس كورونا.

دعا المدیر العام ، وكالة التوجیھ السید غاربا ، (NOA) الوطني

أباري ، إلى تجدید روح الوطنیة بین النیجیریین مع بلوغ األمة ٦٠ عاما.

"یجب أن نعید التفكیر في میولنا المفرطة إلى انقساماتنا الطائفیة

والقبلیة والدینیة وأن نتبنى بقوة أكبر أمتنا وأخوتنا الجماعیة كشعب واحد.

وقال: "یمكننا صیاغة طریق واضح لنیجیریا أفضل".

وقال العباري إن الجوائز سیفوز بھا المشاركون.

"بعد ٦٠ عاما من االستقالل ، بلغت نیجیریا سن الرشد ویجب أن تأخذ

مكانھا بالكامل كعمالق إفریقیا ، لیس فقط بالكلمات ، ولكن في الواقع.

"سوف یتطلب األمر الوالء المطلق لشعبنا لوطننا حتى یتحقق ذلك.

ووفقا لھ ، فإن العقد المقبل لنیجیریا یجب أن یخصص إلعادة اكتشاف

وطنیة حقیقیة وتطور سریع.

وقال عباري إن وكالة التوجیھ الوطني أطلقت مسابقة فیدیو

للمواطنین على وسائل التواصل االجتماعي في حملة حملت عالمة

٤ #"ABETTERNIGERIA".

وجھ عباري الدعوة یوم الخمیس في أبوجا في رسالة بمناسبة الذكرى

الستین الستقالل نیجیریا.

وقال إن ھذا یتماشى مع روح الجماعیة كما تصورھا اآلباء

المؤسسون لألمة.

وحث النیجیریین على استغالل االحتفال للتفكیر في حقیقة أن عظمة

البالد في أیدیھم.

وقال إن ذلك جزء من مساھمات الوكالة لتجدید الحماسة القومیة بین

النیجیریین مع احتفال األمة بالذكرى الستین الستقاللھا.

وقال إن الھدف من ذلك ھو جذب الشباب لتقدیم ونشر مقاطع فیدیو

عصامیة حول قضایا الوطنیة واألخالق الوطنیة.

السكرتیر الدائم ، الوزارة االتحادیة للمناجم وتطویر الصلب ، السید إیدیت أكبان (الرابع ، یمین) ؛ خلیفتھ الدكتور

Oluwatoyin Akinlade ( ، الرابعL) .ومدیر في الوزارة ، خالل التسلیم في أبوجا یوم األربعاء ، ٣٠ سبتمبر

یسعى اتحاد أعضاء ھیئة التدریس بالجامعات إلى تبني الشفافیة والمساءلة الجامعیة إلنھاء اإلضراب

كما دعا إلى توفیر أموال للتنشیط ،

واستكمال عملیة إعادة التفاوض

واعتماد أوتاس ، إلنھاء اإلضراب

وقال الوان في البیان: "إن المعلومات

الخاطئة المتعلقة بدفع رواتب

المسؤولین الحكومیین مثبطة للھمم

وملیئة بالفساد لتشویھ سمعة المسار

النبیل للجامعة وأعضائھا".

وحث البیان الحكومة االتحادیة على

التحقیق في األمر ، مشیرا إلى تعلیق

دفع رواتب أعضائھا خالل األشھر

الثالثة الماضیة.

وقال لوان إن النقابة أبدت استیاءھا من عدم دفع الحكومة رواتب

أعضائھا."إننا نحث الحكومة الفیدرالیة على

اإلفراج الفوري عن رواتب أعضائنا والتوقف عن اللعب بالسیاسة مع

اإلضراب الصناعي المستمر منذ ستة أشھر.

ومع ذلك ، رفض االتحاد أي بي بي أي أس مصرا على أنھ ینتھك

استقاللیة الجامعة ، واقترح أوتاس كبدیل لـ أي بي بي أي أس.

الموظفین (أي بي بي أي أس).

وأجرى محمود الوان منسق منطقة كانو منسق الرابطة ھذه الدعوة في

بیان صدر في كانو یوم الخمیس في ختام اجتماعھ الذي عقد في الجامعة

الفیدرالیة دوتسي.

دعا اتحاد األكادیمیین للجامعات (أسو) إلى اعتماد حلول الشفافیة والمساءلة الجامعیة (أوتاس) في

البالد.

أفادت الجزیرة نیجیریا أن الحكومة الفیدرالیة قد وجھت محاضرین

جامعیین للتسجیل في نظام كشوف المرتبات المتكامل ومعلومات

كما دعا إلى توفیر أموال للتنشیط ،

واستكمال عملیة إعادة التفاوض

واعتماد أوتاس ، إلنھاء اإلضراب

وقال الوان في البیان: "إن المعلومات

الخاطئة المتعلقة بدفع رواتب

المسؤولین الحكومیین مثبطة للھمم

وملیئة بالفساد لتشویھ سمعة المسار

النبیل للجامعة وأعضائھا".

وحث البیان الحكومة االتحادیة على

التحقیق في األمر ، مشیرا إلى تعلیق

دفع رواتب أعضائھا خالل األشھر

الثالثة الماضیة.

وقال لوان إن النقابة أبدت استیاءھا من عدم دفع الحكومة رواتب

أعضائھا."إننا نحث الحكومة الفیدرالیة على

اإلفراج الفوري عن رواتب أعضائنا والتوقف عن اللعب بالسیاسة مع

اإلضراب الصناعي المستمر منذ ستة أشھر.

ومع ذلك ، رفض االتحاد أي بي بي أي أس مصرا على أنھ ینتھك

استقاللیة الجامعة ، واقترح أوتاس كبدیل لـ أي بي بي أي أس.

الموظفین (أي بي بي أي أس).

وأجرى محمود الوان منسق منطقة كانو منسق الرابطة ھذه الدعوة في

بیان صدر في كانو یوم الخمیس في ختام اجتماعھ الذي عقد في الجامعة

الفیدرالیة دوتسي.

دعا اتحاد األكادیمیین للجامعات (أسو) إلى اعتماد حلول الشفافیة والمساءلة الجامعیة (أوتاس) في

البالد.

أفادت الجزیرة نیجیریا أن الحكومة الفیدرالیة قد وجھت محاضرین

جامعیین للتسجیل في نظام كشوف المرتبات المتكامل ومعلومات

news in arabic e-mail: [email protected]


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Babban Darakta, Hukumar Wayar da Kan Qasa (NOA), Mista Garba Abari, ya yi kira da a sake sabunta kishin qasa a tsakanin ‘yan Nijeriya yayin da qasar ta cika shekaru 60.

Abari ya yi wannan kiran ne a ranar Alhamis a Abuja, a wani saqon da ya gabatar na bikin cikar Nijeriya shekaru 60 da samun ‘yancin kai.

Ya buqaci ‘yan Nijeriya da su yi amfani da bikin don yin waiwaye kan yadda qasar ta kasance a hannun su.

“A shekaru 60 da samun ‘yancin kai, Nijeriya ta isa shekaru kuma dole ne ta cika matsayin ta na babbar

Cibiyar Ilimin ‘Yan mata (CGE), ta haxa qawancen (IP) na Tsarin ‘Safe Space’ wanda Gwamnatin Norway ta bayar tare da tallafin UNFPA, ta rarraba radiyo mai amfani da hasken rana ga ‘yammata matasa 9000 a qananan hukumomi uku na Jihar Gombe.

AljazirahNigeria ta ba da rahoton cewa a Qananan Hukumomin, Yamaltu / Deba a jihar Gombe. Tun da farko an dauki masu cin gajiyar rediyon tare da sanya su cikin shirin ‘Safe Space’ a faxin qananan hukumomi uku na Funakaye, Yamaltu / Deba da Kaltungo.

Rarraba radiyon mai amfani da hasken rana ga ‘yan mata a cikin shirin ‘Safe Space’, kuma hakan, ya biyo bayan yarjejeniyar da aka sanya hannu tsakanin UNFPA da Ma’aikatar Harkokin Wajen

Norway akan aikin shekaru uku mai taken “Intergrated Aporoach,’ don Qarfafa wa mata matasa da samari.

Ana aiwatar da aikin a jihohin Gombe da Akwa Ibom don havaka bayanai game da lafiyar haihuwa.

Har ila yau, an tsara aikin ne don samar da ingantaccen sabis na jima’i da kiwon lafiyar haihuwa, gami da tsara iyali don ‘yan mata, mata da masu haihuwa.

Dakta Isiaku Mohammed, Mashawarci na Musamman kan Tsare-tsaren Kasafin Kuxi ga Gwamnan Jihar Gombe, yayin qaddamar da rabon rediyon mai amfani da hasken rana, ya ce UNFPA ce ta sayo su.

Mohammed, wanda kuma shi ne Mai kula da ayyukan qungiyoyin bayar da tallafi, ya qara da cewa aikin wanda aka

fara shi sama da shekara guda da ta gabata, an dakatar da shi ne biyo bayan cutar ta Korona.

A cewarsa, Rediyon mai amfani da hasken rana za ta taimaka wa waxanda suka ci gajiyar su saurari labarin da aka xauka yayin da suke gida.

Ya yaba wa abokan haxin gwiwar ci gaban kan abin da suke yi a Jihar Gombe, kuma ya ba da tabbacin cewa za a yi amfani da rediyon don manufar da aka nufa.

Dakta Mardiya Abbas, mamba a Hukumar CGE, ta shawarci waxanda suka amfana da su yi amfani da abin da aka koya musu a aikace.

Ta yabawa gwamnatin jihar bisa taimakon da take bai wa cibiyar a jihar, sannan ta qara da cewa jihar Gombe na xaya daga cikin jihohin da suke da himma.

CGE Ta Rarraba Radiyo Mai Amfani Da Hasken Rana 9000 Ga ‘Yammata A Gombe

Cikar Nijeriya 60: NOA Na Son Sabunta Kishin Qasa

Afirka, ba kawai a baki ba, amma a zahiri.

“Zai xauki mutuncin mutanenmu ba gaira ba dalili ga kasarmu ta uba. “Dole ne mu sake tunani game da wuce gona da iri da muke da shi zuwa nuna vangarancinmu, qabilanci da addinanmu, kuma mu qara rungumar qasarmu da kuma ‘yan uwantaka ta gama gari a matsayin mutane masu haxin kai.

“Za mu iya qirqirar ingantacciyar hanya don inganta Nijeriya,” in ji shi.

A cewarsa, shekaru goma masu zuwa ga Nijeriya ya kamata a dukufa

don sake gano qasa da kuma ci gaba cikin sauri.

Wannan yana cikin ruhin tarawa kamar yadda magabata suka kafa qasar, in ji shi.

Abari ya ce NOA ta qaddamar da gasar bidiyon ‘yan qasa a shafukan sada zumunta a wani kamfen da aka yi wa laqabi da‘ # 4ABETTERNIGERIA ’.

Ya ce wannan don jawo hankalin matasa ne su gabatar tare da yaxa bidiyoyin da aka qirqira kansu kan batutuwan kishin qasa da xa’a na qasa.

Daga hagu: Babban sakatare / fitaccen Sakatare, Ma’aikatar Yada Labarai da Al’adu ta Tarayya, Deaconess Grace Gekpe; Manajan Darakta, Kamfanin Dillancin Labaran Najeriya (NAN), Mista Buki Ponle; da kuma Ministan yada labarai da al’adu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yayin zaman karba-karba na babban Sakataren, a NTA Arena da ke Abuja ranar Laraba, 30 ga Satumba. PHOTO: HOgan Bassey/nan

Kungiyar Masu Kaji ta Nijeriya (PAN) ta yi kira ga Gwamnatin Tarayya da ta sanya baki a harkar noma ta hanyar ba da tallafin kayan abinci domin rage farashin ciyarwar.

Mista Ezekiel Mam, Shugaban qungiyar na qasa wanda ya yi wannan kiran a lokacin da yake zantawa da AljazirahNigeria a Abuja ranar Alhamis a bikin tunawa da ranar da Nijeriya ta samu ‘yanci na 60, ya jaddada cewa karimcin zai inganta rayuwar ‘yan qasa.

Mam ya nuna vacin ransa game da tsadar kowane mutum a cikin tattalin arzikin qasar a wannan lokacin, yana mai cewa ya yi yawa sosai don jawo hankalin masu saka jari.

Ya yi kira da a rage farashin jari, tare da samar da yanayi mai kyau ga manoma ta hanyar samar da mafi qarancin farashi a kan kayayyakin da za su noma.

Mam ya ce bayar da tallafi ga vangaren noma zai tara ximbin ‘yan Nijeriya zuwa gonaki kuma ko yaushe abinci zai zama mai rahusa, mai sauqi cikin sauqi, tare da wadatuwa da yawa a kewaya.

Shugaban qasar, wanda ya yaba wa gwamnati kan sauya fasalin vangaren mai, ya bayyana abinci a matsayin manyan buqatun da ake da shi na yawan jama’a da ke buqatar tallafi.

Ya kuma yi kira da a saka jari a binciken aikin gona. Mam ya ce yanzu haka, amfanin da ake samu a kowace kadada a Nijeriya ya yi qasa sosai idan aka kwatanta da sauran qasashe masu tasowa.

“A yanzu haka, muna samar da metric tan biyu zuwa uku a kowace kadada. Idan za mu iya motsa shi har zuwa tan bakwai, zai fi kyau saboda a wasu tattalin arzikin, suna samar da tan 10 zuwa 12 a kowace kadada.

“Ba zato ba tsammani, masarar su za ta kasance mai rahusa. Ba za ku iya kwatanta da mu da muke samar da metric tan uku tare da wani wanda ke samar da tan 12 ba, ba mu da fa’idar kwatankwacin wannan wanda babban qalubale ne.

“Don haka, muna buqatar mu saka jari sosai a binciken aikin gona ta yadda za mu inganta namu,” in ji shi.

Ungiyar Kiwon Kaji Ta Roqi Gwamanatin Tarayya Ta Ba Da Tallafin Abinci

Qungiyar Malaman Jami’o’i (ASUU) ta yi kira da a amince da tsarin tabbatar da gaskiya da riqon amana na Jami’o’i (UTAS) a qasar nan.

Mahmud Lawan, Coordinator, Kodinetan Shiyyar Kano na qungiyar, ya yi wannan kiran a cikin wata sanarwa da ya fitar a Kano ranar Alhamis, a qarshen taron da ta gudanar a Jami’ar Tarayya da ke Dutse.

AljazirahNigeria ta ruwaito cewa Gwamnatin Tarayya ta umarci Malaman jami’o’i da su yi rajista a cikin Haxaxxen tsarin biyan albashi da na ma’aikata (IPPIS)

Qungiyar, duk da haka, ta qi amincewa da IPPIS tana mai jaddada cewa ta keta ikon mallakar jami’a, kuma ta gabatar da UTAS a matsayin madadin IPPIS.

Lawan ya ce qungiyar qwadagon ta nuna rashin jin daxinta game da rashin biyan mambobinta da ke cikin gwamnatin.

Wata sanarwa da Shugaban NGF, kan yaxa labarai da Hulxa da Jama’a, Abdulrazaque Bello-barkindo ya fitar a ranar Laraba ta ce, Shugaban NGF kuma gwamnan Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi ne ya ba da gudummawar.

Sanarwar ta bayyana cewa Fayemi ya ziyarci Maiduguri ne don ba Gwamna Gogaggen Zulum haxin kai kan harin da aka kai wa tawagarsa.

Da yake mika cakin din ga Zulum, Fayemi ya ce Nijeriya na da burin ‘yan Borno su kawo qarshen tayar da qayar baya.

Ya gargadi Zulum da ya yi taka-tsantsan a ayyukansa a jihar. Fayemi ya tuno da yadda Zulum ya yi qoqarin hana su ziyartar jiharsa, ya ce ya dage kan cewa ba wani aiki ne kawai ba, amma abin da ya fi dacewa shi ne a yi saboda “ Kai wa mutum hari shi ne duka.”

Da yake amsawa, Zulum ya yaba wa NGF bisa wannan karimcin da ya nuna, yana mai cewa ba yawan kuxi bane, amma karimcin ne ya sa hakan ke da muhimmanci.

Gwamnan ya yi alqawarin yin taka-tsantsan kan yadda zai keta jiharsa.

ASUU Ta Buqaci A Sanya Tsarin UTAS Don Kawo Qarshen Yajin Aikin

Qungiyar Gwamnonin Nijeriya (NGF) ta ba da tallafin Naira miliyan 100 ga Gwamnatin Borno.

news in hausaOctober 5 – October 11, 2020






@aljazirahnewsng



Military parade during Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Thursday, October 1. Photo: Callistus Ewelike/NAN

STORIES BY MARIAM SANI

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on inaugurated the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, remodeled Special Investigation Bureau, in Abuja.

Buratai, while inaugurating the complex, commended the Acting Provost Marshal, Brig.-Gen. Hassan Ahmed, for his foresight towards completing the structure.

He urged the corps to continue to discharge their duties professionally and efficiently, adding that they needed the required discipline and regimentation to be a professional army.

He pledged to continue to ensure improvement on facilities that would enable the personnel discharge their duties effectively.

“The Nigerian Army is proud of you for working so tirelessly by making the best use of the resources to ensure that this edifice materialise.

“We want to thank Mr President and Commander-in-Chief for all the resources he has provided us and I assure him that we will remain loyal and dedicated to the service of our father land,” he said.

Earlier, the Acting Provost Marshal, said the Headquarters complex had 54 offices, three conference halls, library, four interrogation rooms, viewing centre and forensic laboratory.

He added that the Special Investigation Bureau complex had been expanded and restructured to include motor transport yard and canteen.

Buratai Inaugurates Military Police Headquarters In Abuja

Buratai Tasks Army Officers On Professionalism, Prudent Management Of Finances

Army Pledges Support to Borno Govt Relocation, Resettlement of IDPs

Ahmed commended Buratai for providing the needed resources for the construction and remodeling of the edifice, assuring the commitment of the personnel to discharging their duties effectively.

“I want to assure the Chief of

Army Staff that we shall utilise these structures towards attaining your vision which is to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional role and enhance our performance.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has call on personnel of Nigerian Army Finance Corps to be prudent in the management of finances in line with extant provisions of financial administration in the public service.

Buratai made the call at the opening of a 2-Day Army Headquarters Training on Auditing and Accounts Rendition for Nigerian Army Finance Corps personnel on in Abuja.

He urged the participants to always advise their commanders on prudent

The Nigerian Army says it is fully in support of the ongoing efforts of Borno State government to relocate and resettle the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state back to their ancestral homes.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Musa described the effort of Gov. Babagana Zulum aimed at resettling the IDPs as commendable and right step in the desired direction.

He said that the Nigerian army being a patriotic and key agency in the

use of scarce resources and stick to all the finance and accountability standards as spelt out in relevant financial guidelines for the army.

The army chief, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, stated that the myriads of security challenges confronting the country cut across the entire geo-political zones with the North-East as the epicenter.

He said the challenges had impacted on lean national resources, adding that

war against terrorism in the North East would ensure the actualisation of the governor’s desire.

According to him, the Army hereby declares its unflinching commitment to the relocation of the IDPs to their original abodes.

Musa also disclosed that the Theatre Command had been directed to do all it takes to ensure the successful and seamless relocation of the affected people in the state.

According to him, the relocation of these law abiding Nigerians to their towns, villages and homes at this

it had become imperative to emplace prudent utilization mechanisms for allocated funds through effective auditing and accounting tools.

“For army personnel in various theatres of operations, it is incumbent on you to continue to evolve robust and cost effective strategies to defeat the remnants of terrorists as well as other criminals across the country.

“In this vein therefore, let me remind all participants to always be guided by my strategic goal for Year 2020, which is to “sustain

stage of the war against insurgency is highly strategic and a decisive political decision.

He said that it was required to actualize both the political and military objectives of the war towards the ultimate end of restoring peace and stability to Borno and NE region.

“The NA commiserates with the Borno State Governor, families of all the fallen heroes (military, police and civilian victims) as a result of the dastardly act of ambush by BHT group along Monguno – Kross Kauwa Road.

“We shall use this complex judiciously to police the Nigerian Army by enforcing law, order and maintaining service discipline at all time,” he said.

Ahmed also solicited for more support from Buratai to intervene in

the Military Police Training School and Nigerian Army School of Legal Studies in the area of infrastructure.

He also requested for accommodation for the soldiers of the corps to enhance their living standa.

professionalism of the Nigerian Army and responsiveness in discharge of our constitutional responsibilities.

“This training amongst several other efforts is one of the ways of achieving the goal.

“Let me emphasize that all Nigerian Army personnel must deliver on every task and mandate irrespective of their deployments.

“This remains the only way to justify the confidence that Mr President and indeed Nigerians reposed in the army to secure our nation and engender development and economic prosperity of Nigerians and law abiding citizens and residents in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Buratai said the training was organized to broaden the knowledge of finance officers and clerks on some salient administrative skills required for prudent management of scarce resources and rendition of accounts.

He added that the training would also create awareness about extant provisions on the administration of finance in the public sector.

According to him, it is also in view of the anti-corruption drive of the Federal Government as well as dwindling national revenue amongst competing demands on lean resources.

Nigerian Army newsMotto: Victory is from God alone e-mail: [email protected]


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Faretin sojoji yayin bikin cikar Nijeriya shekaru 60 da samun ‘Yanci a filin Eagle Square da ke Abuja a ranar Alhamis, 1 ga Oktoba. Photo: Callistus Ewelike/NAN

Babban Hafsan Sojojin, Laftana-Janar. Tukur Buratai, a lokacin da aka qaddamar da Hedikwatar Rundunar Sojojin Nijeriya, ya sake inganta Ofishin Bincike na Musamman, a Abuja. Buratai, yayin buxe katafaren ginin, ya yabawa muqaddashin Provost Marshal, Birigediya-Janar Hassan Ahmed, don hangen nesa ga kammala tsarin. Ya buqaci jami’an da su ci gaba da gudanar da ayyukansu a bisa qwarewa da inganci, ya qara da cewa suna buqatar xa’a da tsarin da ake buqata don zama qwararrun sojoji.

Ya yi alqawarin ci gaba da tabbatar da inganta kayan aiki da zai ba ma’aikata damar gudanar da ayyukansu yadda ya kamata. “Sojojin Nijeriya suna alfahari da ku saboda aiki tuquru ba tare da gajiyawa ba ta hanyar yin amfani da dukiyar da kyau don tabbatar da cewa wannan gini ya samu. “Muna so mu gode wa Shugaban qasa da Babban-Kwamanda a kan duk albarkatun da ya samar mana kuma ina ba shi tabbacin cewa za mu ci gaba da kasancewa masu biyayya da qwazo don yi wa qasar mahaifinmu hidima,” in ji shi.

Tun da farko, Muqaddashin Provost Marshal, ya ce rukunin hedikwatar yana da ofisoshi 54, xakunan taro guda uku, xakin karatu, xakunan bincike huxu, cibiyar kallo da xakin binciken qwaqwaf. Ya qara da cewa an faxaxa ofishin Ofishin Bincike na Musamman kuma an sake masa fasali ta yadda ya haxa da farfajiyar motocin da kanti. Ahmed ya yaba wa Buratai saboda samar da kayan aikin da ake bukata don ginawa tare da sake fasalin gine-ginen, yana mai bayar da tabbacin

Buratai Ya Qaddamar Da Hedikwatar ‘Military Police’ A Abuja

Buratai Ya Buqaci Sojoji Su Zama Masu Kula Da Qwarewa Kan Harkokin Kuxi

Sojoji Sun Yi Alwashin Tallafawa Gwamnatin Borno Wajen Mayar Da ‘Yan Gudun Hijira Gidajensu

jajircewar ma’aikata wajen sauke ayyukansu yadda ya kamata.

“Ina so in tabbatar wa babban Hafsan Hafsoshin Sojan Qasar cewa za mu yi amfani da waxannan tsare-tsaren wajen cimma burinku wanda

yake shi ne samar da qwararrun sojojin Nijeriya wajen sauke nauyin da tsarin mulki ya ba su tare da bunqasa ayyukanmu. “Za mu yi amfani da wannan haxaxxen yadda za mu yi amfani da hankali ga ‘yan

Shugaban hafsin sojojin, Laftana-Janar. Tukur Buratai, ya yi kira ga ma’aikatan rundunonin Sojojin Nijeriya da su kasance masu taka-tsantsan wajen tafiyar da harkokin kuxi kamar yadda ya kamata a yanzu game da tsarin hada-hadar kuxi a ma’aikatun gwamnati. Buratai ya yi wannan kiran ne a lokacin da aka buxe wani samame na hedikwatar Sojoji na kwanaki 2 kan rarar kuxi da rarar kuxi ga ma’aikatan rundunonin Sojojin Nijeriya a Abuja. Ya buqaci mahalarta taron da su riqa bai wa kwamandojinsu shawara a ko yaushe kan amfani da qarancin kayan aiki ta hanyar amfani da su ta yadda za su bi

Sojojin Nijeriya sun ce sun yi alqawarin bayar da cikakken goyon baya ga qoqarin da gwamnatin jihar Borno ke yi na sake mayar da ‘yan gudun hijirar (IDPs) a cikin jihar gidajen kakanninsu. Muqaddashin Daraktan, hulxa da jama’a na rundunar, Kanal Sagir Musa ne, ya bayyana hakan a cikin wata sanarwa a Abuja. Musa ya bayyana qoqarin da Gwamna Babagana Zulum ya yi da nufin sake tsugunar da ‘yan gudun hijirar a matsayin abin yabawa kuma madaidaiciya kan tafarkin da ake so.

Ya ce sojojin Nijeriya kasancewar

duk tsarin kudi da lissafin kuxi kamar yadda aka fayyace a cikin qa’idojin kuxi da suka dace ga rundunar.

Shugaban sojojin, wanda ya samu wakilcin Shugaban Manufofin da Tsare-tsare, Laftana-Janar. Lamidi Adeosun, ya bayyana cewa ximbin qalubalen tsaro da ke addabar qasar nan ya ratsa dukkanin shiyyoyin siyasa tare da yankin Arewa maso Gabas a matsayin cibiyar. Ya ce qalubalen ya yi tasiri ga arzikin qasa, inda ya qara da cewa ya zama wajibi a qarfafa hanyoyin yin amfani da hankali ga kuxaxen da ake warewa ta hanyar ingantattun hanyoyin bincike da lissafi.

su masu kishin qasa da kuma muhimmiyar hukuma a yaqi da ta’addanci a yankin Arewa maso Gabas za su tabbatar da aiwatar da sha’awar gwamnan. A cewarsa, rundunar sojan ta sanar da cewa ba za ta yi qasa a gwiwa ba wajen sake mayar da ‘yan gudun hijirar zuwa gidajensu na asali. Musa ya kuma bayyana cewa an umarci kwamandan sansanin da ya yi duk abin da ya kamata don tabbatar da samun nasarar komawar mutanen da abin ya shafa a jihar gidajensu.

A cewarsa, maida waxannan ‘yan Nijeriya masu bin doka da oda

“Ga ma’aikatan soji a gidajen kallo daban-daban na gudanar da ayyuka, ya zama wajibi a kanku da ku ci gaba da qirqirar sabbin dabaru masu amfani da tsada don fatattakar ragowar‘ yan ta’adda da ma sauran masu laifi a faxin qasar. “A wannan yanayin, bari in tunatar da dukkan mahalarta da su kasance masu jagora a ko da yaushe bisa manufa ta mai kyau na 2020, wanda shi ne” xorewar qwarewar sojojin Nijeriya da kuma amsawa wajen sauke nauyin da kundin tsarin mulki ya xora mana.

“Wannan horon tsakanin sauran qoqarin yana xaya daga cikin hanyoyin cimma buri. “Bari na qara jaddada

zuwa garuruwansu, qauyukansu da gidajensu a wannan matakin na yaqi da masu ta da qayar baya yana da matuqar dabaru da kuma yanke hukunci na siyasa. Ya ce ana buqatar yin amfani da manufofin siyasa da na soji na yaqin zuwa qarshen dawo da zaman lafiya da kwanciyar hankali a Borno da yankin NE. “NA tana jajantawa tare da Gwamnan Jihar Borno, da iyalan dukkan gwarazan da suka mutu (sojoji, ‘yan sanda da farar hula) sakamakon mummunan harin kwanton vaunar da qungiyar BHT ta yi wa Monguno - Kross Kauwa Road.

sanda ta hanyar amfani da doka, oda da kuma kiyaye da’a a kowane lokaci,” in ji shi.

Ahmed ya kuma nemi qarin tallafi daga Buratai don tsoma baki a Makarantar Horar da ‘Yan Sanda

ta Soja da Makarantar Koyon Aikin Doka ta Sojojin Nijeriya a vangaren kayayyakin more rayuwa. Ya kuma nemi a ba su masauki ga sojojin bautar qasar don inganta rayuwarsu.

cewa duk sojojin Nijeriya dole ne su gabatar da kowane aiki tare da ba da umarni ba tare da la’akari da tura su ba. “Wannan ita ce hanya xaya tilo da za a iya tabbatar da amincewar da Shugaban qasa da kuma ‘yan Nijeriya suka yi a cikin rundunar soji don tabbatar da qasarmu da haifar da ci gaba da ci gaban tattalin arziki na ‘yan Nijeriya da masu bin doka da oda da kuma mazauna Nijeriya, ‘’ in ji shi.

Buratai ya ce an shirya horon ne domin faxaxa ilimin jami’an kuxi da kuma magatakarda kan wasu dabarun gudanar da mulki da ake buqata don taka-tsantsan wajen kula da qarancin albarkatu da kuma bayar da asusu. Ya qara da cewa horon zai kuma samar da wayar da kan mutane game da tanade-tanade don tafiyar da harkokin kuxi a vangaren gwamnati. A cewarsa, hakan yana da nasaba da yaqi da cin hanci da rashawa da Gwamnatin Tarayya ke yi tare da rage kuxaxen shiga na qasar nan a tsakanin buqatun da ake da su na qarancin albarkatu.

“An samo daga wasu darusa ne na ayyukan tantancewa daban-daban, ya zama wajibi a inganta ilimin kwamandoji a dukkan matakai da jami’ansu na kuxi kan buqatun da ake da su na yin tattara bayanan dokokin da suka gabata game da gudanar da kuxaxen gwamnati da kuma Kundin Tsara Qa’idoji a cikinsu.

Nigerian ArmyMotto: Nasara daga Allah kadai take news in hausa





MAKKAH: A total of 108,041 permits were issued for pilgrims between the launch of the Eatmarna app on Sept. 27 up to Oct. 1, according to official statistics released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Saudis were granted 42,873 permits while expats were granted 65,168.

As many as 16,000 pilgrims registered for Umrah on the app in the first hour of its launch; the number reached 309,686 Saudis and expats by the end of the first week of its launch, including 224,929 registered pilgrims and 84,757 companions.

Statistics have also shown that among those wishing to perform Umrah, pilgrims aged between 51 and 60 years old represented the lowest percentage with 8 percent, followed by pilgrims between 41 and 50 years old with 14 percent, pilgrims between 20 and 30 years with 17 percent, pilgrims between 31 and 40 years old with 26 percent and pilgrims over 60 years old with 35 percent.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques told Arab News that several scenarios have been adopted to organize the pilgrims’ movement inside the Grand Mosque during this year’s exceptional Umrah season. In the first scenario, pilgrims will perform Umrah rituals in a spiral motion, from the outside to the inside of the Grand Mosque, and in the second pilgrims will be divided into groups of 50 accompanied by supervisors.

The ministry said that the first

108,041 Umrah Permits Issued Japan’s FM Motegi Meets With Saudi Ministers In Riyadh

The presidency stressed the Grand Mosque’s readiness to receive pilgrims

phase will run for 13 days, and in the second phase permits will be issued for prayers in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Sacred Chamber, while in the third stage Muslims from outside the Kingdom will be allowed to perform Umrah.

The presidency stressed the Grand Mosque’s readiness to receive pilgrims — an integral plan was developed for this Umrah season to serve pilgrims and ensure their safety.

This came during a remote press conference held recently by

the presidency, during which the deputy president for administrative and financial affairs, Dr. Saad bin Mohammed Al-Mohaimeed, said that the presidency has recruited more than 1,000 employees to follow up on pilgrims at the Grand Mosque.

U20 Calls For Equitable, Carbon-Neutral, Inclusive, Healthy SocietiesRIYADH: The Riyadh-led Urban 20 (U20) Mayor’s Summit that concluded on Friday, issued its final communique stressing the significance of partnership in achieving equitable, carbon-neutral, inclusive and healthy societies.

In the communique that closed the three-day virtual summit the 39 city leaders said: “We, the Mayors, underscoring the interconnectedness of the world and our shared future, have gathered as the U20 to call on the G20 leaders to commit to our partnership in achieving equitable, carbon-neutral, inclusive and healthy societies.”

They agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing social and economic crisis make this call even more urgent as cities and metropolitan areas, which lie at the heart of the G20’s vitality, are the center of the crisis.

Mayors are on the frontline in the delivery of COVID-19 recovery

action plans, it said.It further stated that there is

a need to improve the welfare and resilience of our cities and communities, by addressing solidarity, re-investing in public health, and mitigating future threats such as the climate crisis.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on behalf of G20 presidency Saudi

Housing Minister Majed Al-Hogail said the summit addressed key issues on urban development and held fruitful discussions on smart cities, better health care systems amid the pandemic, and future challenges and infrastructure investment.

He said that it would strengthen our partnership and help to achieve objectives to construct a more equitable, sustainable and inclusive, shared future for all.

The communique said that climate action and biodiversity preservation can help to accelerate economic recovery and enhance equity through new technologies and the creation of green jobs.

Now is the time to devise visionary multilateral solutions and strengthen policy-making that fosters inclusive, sustainable, resilient and smart urbanization and protects the rights of citizens and the foundations of local democracy, it added.

DUBAI: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Sau-di Arabia, in Riyadh on Saturday.

The two ministers discussed bi-lateral relations between the coun-tries and prospects for joint cooper-ation, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Motegi said Japan’s willingness to support Saudi Arabia’s reforms in public and private sectors is “un-wavering.” He added that the in-dustrial diversification promoted by Saudi Arabia is increasing and falls under the framework of “Ja-pan-Saudi Vision 2030.”

They also reviewed the agen-da for the upcoming G20 summit, which will be held under Saudi Ara-bia’s presidency.

The two Foreign Ministers ex-changed views on the situation in the Middle East, including Iran and peace in the region. They agreed that Japan and Saudi Arabia would continue to work together for peace and stability.

The situation in East Asia such as the East China Sea, South Chi-na Sea, and North Korea was also discussed. The Saudi minister ex-pressed his full support to Motegi for the early resolution of Japan’s abduction issue. Al-Hogail

news from saudi e-mail: [email protected]


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continue on page 20

Consumers Groan As DisCos Delay Tariff Hike ReversalBy charles eBi

Against the backdrop of the suspension by the Federal Government of the recent electricity tariff hike, electricity consumers have continued to lament the delay by the distribution companies in reverting to the old rates.

The Federal Government had, in a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress held on Sunday night till Monday morning, agreed to suspend the recent tariff hike approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for two weeks.

The parties agreed to set up a technical committee comprising ministries, departments and agencies of government, NLC and TUC.

It would work for two weeks, effective September 28, to examine the justifications for the new policy ‘in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost-reflective tariff as a result of the conflicting information from the fields which appeared different from the data presented to justify the new policy by NERC; metering deployment, challenges, timeline for massive rollout’.

NERC disclosed on Tuesday that it had issued an order to the Discos suspending the recent review in tariffs for 14 days, effective September 28, in line with the Federal Government’s agreement with labour unions.

It said during the suspension, all tariffs shall be computed on the rates applicable as of August 31.

But a number of consumers, who commented on NERC’s announcement of the tariff hike suspension, complained that they still bought electricity at the old tariffs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Twitter user, Eleojo Emmanuel, said, “Hi @IkejaElectric, I bought units at 9am today (Sept. 30, 2020). I paid N5,000 and got 94.4 units. When do I

get the balance of my units per this @NERCNG order?”

Another Twitter user, Prince Sola Olaniyi, said, “For a test on the update, I recharged N500 this morning, but I got a hiked tariff.”

A copy of the receipt he posted showed that he got 7.46 kilowatts per hour, translating to N67 per KWh, from Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

Another consumer, Oyinkro Omukoro, said he bought electricity units worth N10,000 from Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company on Tuesday but got 169.80 units as against the over 320 units he would have got if the tariff hike was reversed.

Another Twitter user, with the handle @vller, in a message to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, said, “Hello, AEDC, I bought power last week via @buypowerng but noticed that the unit received was half what I should get considering @NERCNG had already put a halt in tariff hike as of October 1.

“Kindly give to me the exact unit that I should get based on the previous tariff.”

In its reply, Abuja Disco said it had received directives for a two-week suspension of the service reflective tariff from NERC.

It said, “This order will apply to tariff rates for electricity purchased from September 28 to October 11. However, our team is still working to adjust the rates accordingly.

“Customers who have vended on or after the said date, should please send in their details via direct message and we will escalate to the appropriate unit for resolution as soon as possible.”

Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, in a notice posted on its Twitter page on Wednesday, said it had fully complied with NERC’s directive on tariff hike suspension.

“Prepaid customers who purchase electricity tokens from today will therefore see the value of the old tariff reflected in their tokens while post-paid customers will also see the old tariff reflected on their next bill,” its Head, Corporate Communication, Mr Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said.

The President, Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, Chijioke James, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, described the tariff hike as ill-timed.

He said, “The DisCos have no option than to comply with the directive of the regulator. The two-week suspension is neither here nor there.

“The timing for the increase is not right at all. So, we are just asking that the status quo ante be maintained until a couple of issues are resolved and extensive consultation made with the consumers and all critical stakeholders.”

The DisCos had early in September announced what they called ‘new service reflective tariff’, which took effect from September 1, with the tariffs being charged residential consumers receiving a minimum of 12 hours of power supply rising by over 70%.

In a related development, the National Union of Electricity Employers (NUEE) has faulted the privatisation of the power sector, describing the exercise as fraudulent.

It said an increase in tariff cannot therefore improve electricity supply since power generation is based on very expensive gas, saying no single power plant is being constructed in the last seven years.

Its General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who spoke to reporters in Lagos, said the distribution companies (DisCos) are using the increment to exploit Nigerians without enjoying the service.

NUEE stressed that DisCos invested N400 billion in the power sector while the Federal Government invested N1.7 trillion yet the government controls 40% equity while the operator controls 60 per cent, saying it is fraudulent.

He said the DisCos signed the dubious contract, hence they keep charging Nigerians for their inefficiency.

Speaking further on the state of the power sector, Ajaero said power generation as of today remains 4,0000megawatts (Mw) despite the increase in the Nigerian population.

The labour leader posited that as a result of this, the country has continued to be deindustrialised.

Ajaero charged the Federal Government to tell Nigerians why it refused to review the policy after seven years.

“For instance, 90 per cent of transformers supplied by the DisCos are overloaded with no relief plan and one of the agreements is to be changing transformers but because they want to maximize profit, they refuse to do so,” he said.

Ajaero, therefore, said privatisation policy is out to destroy the economy of the nation and to milk Nigerians, saying since the DisCos took over, nothing has changed.

According to him, it is a fraud for the government to charge Nigerians with the international rate when the country has sources to generate power.

NUEE, therefore, pleaded with Nigerians not to pay for the

NUEE describe power sector privatization as fraudulent

busin

ess &

econ

omy

From left: Deputy Director, Accounts Department, African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development, AUDA-NEPAD, Malam Muhammad Argungu; Director, African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM, Department, Mrs Adefunke Adimula; Director of Programme Research and Statistics Department, Mr Charles Ibezimako; National Coordinator, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu; Director of Programme Development and Implementation Department, Mr Maxwell Zacheus; Senior Special Assistant to National Coordinator, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria, Dr Emmanuel Abang; Assistant Director, Programme Development and Implementation Department, Mr Abdulkareem Yusuf; and Head of Legal Unit, Mr Francis Iyaje, after the inauguration of National Steering Committee of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria’s Smallholder Farmers in Abuja on Tuesday September 29. PHOTO: AnTHOny AlAbi/nAn.





By yahaya Umar

The Federal Government, 36 states and the 774 local governments of the federation as well revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government shared a total of N5.3 trillion as statutory allocation in eight months, from January to August 2020.

The decline in the total allocation compared to N5.4 trillion shared during the period in 2019, suggests a fall in the country’s revenue due to the slowdown in global economic activities as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

A l j a z i r a h N i g e r i a analysis of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) monthly disbursement report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the Federal Government received the largest share of N2.1 trillion representing a decline of 22 percent when compared to N2.7 trillion received in 2019.

The 36 states received N1.2 trillion representing a fall of 20 percent when compared to N1.5 trillion received in the corresponding period of 2019, while the 774 local governments received N1.1 trillion same as received in 2019. The remaining N700 billion was shared as 13 percent derivative among oil-producing states and revenue-generating agencies.

The three tiers of government received the highest allocation of N780.93 billion in April 2020, while the lowest allocation of N547.31 billion was received in June 2020.

In its latest FAAC’s disbursement report, NBS noted that the three tiers of government received N676.41 billion in August. The report stated: “The FAAC disbursed the sum of N676.41billion to the three tiers of government in August 2020 from the revenue generated in July 2020.

“The amount disbursed comprised of N543.79 billion from the Statutory Account and N132.62 billion from Valued Added Tax (VAT).

“Federal Government received a total of N273.19 billion, States received a total of N190.85 billion and Local governments received N142.76 billion. The sum of N42.85 billion was shared among the oil-producing states as 13% derivation fund.

FG, Others Share N5.3trn In 8 Months

By mariam Sanni, AbujA

The Nigeria Young Farmers Network (NYFN) has called on Nigerian youth to embrace agriculture in order to reduce insecurity, unemployment and other social menace.

The National Coordinator of NYFN, Promise Amahah who made this call during a peace full rally in Abuja, explained that the goal of the president is to lift over millions of Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years and that can only be achieved when young people get involved in agriculture.

According to him, youth across the country lack knowledge about the opportunities in agriculture, lack knowledge of business opportunities in agriculture.

He added that they don’t understand that agriculture is a source of wealth creation.

‘’We are represented from different state, we have members across that 36 states of Nigeria, we are in every local government and every ward actively and our major tool is information and data, without data we won’t be able to do much in agricultural development, so we are gathering data of young people across the country to know their interest and to connect them to the opportunities in the agricultural value chain and that is what we are set to do.

‘’We are also partnering with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to be able to achieve

By CyriL OGar

The Steering committee of the Survival Fund and Guarantee Off-take on Thursday inaugurated the Artisan and Transport sector Track of the Survival Fund Scheme.

The scheme will see 333,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country being given N30,000 support.

Mrs Ibukun Awosika, a member of the Steering Committee, MSME Sustainability Group, said in Lagos that the sustainability plan was introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 1.

Awosika, also Chairperson, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria, said that the operation grant was being given to reduce the effect of income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown.

“The scheme aims at providing 9,009 beneficiaries in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT by

NYFN Calls On Youths To Embrace Agriculture

By henry iBya, MAkurdi

The Benue State Government has awarded a N6.5 billion contract for the construction of a modern geographic information service (GIS) office complex at the ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals.

Governor Samuel Ortom, during a groundbreaking foundation laying ceremony of a one story building temporary administrative office complex, at the ministry’s headquarters in Makurdi, said the project when completed, the Benue geographic information Service (BENGIS),will address the challenges associated with Land administration.

The governor who said not all policies of his administration would be pleasant to some people always however; expressed hope that what is being commissioned will add value to the chain of Land administration as Benue will be added to the map of the world as moving from analog to digital land administration.

Governor Ortom, further revealed that the geographic information service system which will have its head office in Makurdi, will be operated throughout the state with a service center in Gboko, Otukpo and Adikpo, adding that each service point would have modern office complex equipped with State of the art and professional infrastructure with a 24 hour power supply and ICT platform with network as well as internet services.Governor Ortom,who signed and presented 3 digital Certificates of Occupancy to potential owners during the occasion disclosed that the project which is expected to be completed within two years when fully implemented across the state would attract billions of Naira to the state in form of revenue and as well, ease land administration.

In a welcome remark, commissioner for Land’s, Survey and Solid Minerals, Mr. Bernard Unenge, expressed appreciation to the governor for the award of the contract.

He also expressed optimism that the Benue geographic information service BENGIS project would revolutionalise land administration and reduce all bottlenecks associated with acquisition of land in the State, eliminate activities of land speculator’s as well as improve policy formulation and revenue generation.

Ortom Begins Construction Of Benue Geographic Information Service

this and also to leverage on government programs already on agriculture, so we are everywhere in the country, we are over 2 million and going and we expect that by the end of the year we must have reached 10 million.

The goal of the president is to lift over millions of Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years and we can only achieve that when our young people get involved in agriculture. Agriculture is the highest employer of labour and agriculture is the quickest tool out of poverty, with agriculture most problems will be solved and that’s why we are here.

‘’What we found that is the major challenge is lack of knowledge, young people nationwide lack knowledge about the opportunities in agriculture, lack knowledge of business opportunities in agriculture, they don’t

leveraging duly registered and recognised associations.

“This is done with the objective of having their members benefit directly from the scheme, so that they can attest to its transparency and effectiveness.

“We will depend very much on both individual participation and the honesty of the associations in ensuring that those who are qualified are the ones supported, who benefit,” she said.

Awosika said that responsible evaluations would be done before the money is disbursed to those approved for it.

“We encourage you to open an account number so that the money would be paid directly into the beneficiary’s account as we will not be handing out cash,” she said.

Awosika said that certain key programmes such as the “Guarantee Off Take” program and the Payroll program would greatly benefit and add value to the artisans and transport operators, beneficiaries of the

through a continual access to information, innovation and technology for improved practices in the agricultural value chain.

His Words, We are concerned with mobilizing the youth for agriculture. That is why the Ministry currently mandated the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE) to train and deploy 75,000 young farmers ratio. The objective is to create new skills and generate jobs for the teeming population of unemployed youth in Nigeria, to increase the productivity of farmers through a continual access to information, innovation and technology for improved practices in the agricultural value chain.

‘’In this regard, the youth population in Nigeria is encouraged to embrace agriculture as a profitable venture by engaging in various forms of agricultural activities within the respective sub-sectors and value chains.

‘’Agriculture has always been an innovative sector. But we need to improve faster through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) if we are to achieve our goals.

‘’It is a known fact across the globe that for a country to attain growth and development, its economy has to be diversified. Mono-economy needs to give way to the productive development of various sectors of the economy.

has instituted a programme that allows company owners to apply for salary support of a maximum of N50, 000 for a maximum of 10 members of staff for a period of three months.

“The qualification criteria have been made simple in order to ensure that many companies can benefit from it within the budget that the government is working with.

“We already have hundreds of thousands of applications from Nigeria,” she said.

Mr. Kayode Pitan, Managing Director, Bank Of Industry and a member of the steering committee, said the government wanted to ensure that women got their fair share from the scheme.

understand that a lot of wealth can be created through agriculture and most of us who are already engaged in agriculture are doing very well and living comfortable., ‘’ he said.

The Director of Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE) Engr. Frank Satimari while speaking with press men said that the government is interested in mobilizing and sensitizing youths for agriculture.

Satimari who was represented by the Deputy Director FMARD, Muhammad Bashiru explained that FDAE were to train and deploy75,000 youths aimed towards creating new skills and generate job for the teeming population of unemployed youths in Nigeria, to increase the productivity of farmers

scheme.“Guarantee Off take program

is directed at benefiting certain people in the productive sector of the country.

“Certain categories of products will be ordered by the government from Nigerian producers in those sectors with the aim of also benefiting those states within which they function.

“You will hear more about it as we kick off each segment of the program,” she said.

Awosika said that the payroll support which kicked off on Sept. 21, involved company owners who had been challenged by COVID in their ability to pay salaries to their workers.

“Therefore, the government

FrOm pAge 19

FG Kicks-off MSME Support Programme

Nanono

inefficiency of the system. The union also charges the government to hand over the power sector to them for proper management.

The union also accused the

National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of speaking for the investors and not Nigerians, saying until a people-oriented NERC takes over, things will remain the same.

...As DisCos Delay Tariff Hike Reversal

business & economyOctober 5 – October 11, 202020 www.aljazirahnews.com



Bayelsa: What’s Next As Diri Wins Appeal?

YakubuDiri

By Fatima mohammed

After a brief legal rigmarole, the Appeal Court on Friday, October 2, overturned a ruling which had earlier nullified the election of Douye Diri as Bayelsa State Governor, leaving many to ponder on the next move open to the plaintiffs and respondents- the governor and his team.

The five-man panel stated that the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal acted outside its jurisdiction by nullifying the election of Governor Diri.

The tribunal, while ruling on a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) in August, nullified the election of Diri.

The ANDP had in its petition argued that it was illegal for it to be excluded from participating in the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Following the ruling of the tribunal, Diri and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dragged the matter to the Appeal Court.

In its ruling, the appellate court unanimously held that Governor Diri and his party’s petition had merit and was allowed.

It, therefore, set aside the ruling of the tribunal and affirmed Diri as the duly elected governor of Bayelsa State.

In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Yunusa Musa in the petition brought before it by the Advance National Democratic Party (ANDP), the tribunal had ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred when it excluded the party from the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.

INEC was then ordered to conduct a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State within 90 days; with the ANDP participating this time.

However, the governor and his party, the PDP appealed the ruling, urging the appellate court to set aside the ruling of the tribunal.

Diri emerged Bayelsa Governor in February after the Supreme Court sacked David Lyon of the APC who was declared winner after the 2019 election.

Lyon’s running mate was deemed guilty of presenting documents riddled with discrepancies.

With the legal battle which has become more or less a distraction for governance in the state generally, it is feared that a further recourse to a fresh legal move to another level may additionally push the state to a situation of limbo as more time and energies would be dissipated on court matters, instead of governance.

Soon after the Appeal Court ruling, a cross-section of Bayelsans were said to have expressed satisfaction over the ruling which would now allow effective leadership which had been somehow retarded due to the poor

running” in developing Bayelsa state and fulfilling his promises. Part of the statement read: “The PDP stresses that just like other governors elected on the platform of the PDP. Governor Diri indeed hit the ground running in the task of developing Bayelsa state, particularly in his outline of projects in key sectors including, manufacturing, agriculture, oil and gas, power, road infrastructure, education among others, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.

“Our party therefore urges Governor Diri not to relent but continue in his commitment towards the good of all, in line with the manifesto of the PDP. “

Diri himself reacted to the judgement of the appeal court declaring him as the winner of the state’s 2019 governorship election, went somehow spiritual. Speaking at the state house after his election was upheld, Diri said those fighting him are fighting God. He promised to continue in the spirit of unity to deliver the dividends of democracy, even as he submitted to the need for collective action to move the state forward.

More reactions poured in and these came from leading PDP members, among them; Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Olusola Saraki among others. They all applauded the judgement which they all described as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

concentration by the governor and his team, given the legal turns that have taken a toll governance.

Earlier before the appeal was filled Governor Diri was confident that the Appeal Court would upturn the position of the tribunal nullifying his election, stressing that he had implicit confidence in the judiciary. (reactions to follow)

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the Appeal Court ruling.

Ina move that suggests that the government of president Muhammadu Buhari was now ready than ever to support any move that would promote the tenets of democracy and indeed rule of law, the president’s immediate reaction expressed optimism that a new dawn has arose where interference in democratic processes were no longer the fad. In his official twitter handle, he was quoted as saying: What is evident is that democracy is no longer under threat, intimidation of justices no longer prevails as there are unfettered access to the legal processes.”

The PDP also has hailed the verdict in a statement by the party, saying the victory is an affirmation that Diri is the choice of Bayelsa people - However, the party charged the governor to hit the ground running and bring development to the state .

The party, however, tasked Governor Diri to “hit the ground

Our party therefore urges Governor Diri not to relent but continue in his commitment towards the good of all, in line with the manifesto of the PDP.

“polit

ics &

pol

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Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (2nd, right); Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase (2nd, left); and Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa (left), proceeding to the chambers for plenary after resumption from annual recess at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, September 29. Photo: hogan Bassey/nan.





Akeredolu

IBB

Tinubu

2023: Another Group Joins Fray For TinubuBy Ayomide AlAgBe

As permutations for the nation’s general elections billed for 2023 begins with various alignments of thoughts and stakeholders, more overt moves are coming to the fore, as a group of young Nigerian professionals has unveiled a political movement in Abuja to work for the actualisation of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, perceived presidential aspiration.

The movement known as Young Professionals for Tinubu 2023, which held that it has membership across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, said it has been in existence for almost two years, noting that the occasion was to mark its formal inauguration.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Ahmed Muhammed Ibrahim, noted that Tinubu’s leadership qualities and knack for development informed the group’s resolve to work for his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as well as his success in the 2023 presidential election.

According to Ibrahim, “Tinubu is a natural leader who has extended the hand of friendship to all regions of the country. He has what it takes to lead Nigeria towards prosperity.

“He has the skill to discover

talent and the ability to consolidate on the achievements of President Muhammdu Buhari.”

The leader of the group, who said mobilisation was already on, called on lovers of Nigeria to support the movement.

Also speaking at the event, the Secretary-General of the group, Mr. Ishaq Muhammad, observed that Tinubu should be the natural successor to President Buhari as they played the lead role to ensure APC won at the federal level and in many states across country.

“The president and Tinubu are core progressives who put personal benefits aside to rescue the country from the brink of collapse in 2015, so he knows what needs to be done to achieve a greater Nigeria,” he submitted.

However, another political pressure group calling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to contest the 2023 presidential election has hit one million followers, according to some report.

This is as support continues to swell for the APC Leader to emerge as the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Despite the mounting pressure on him, it was reported that the former Lagos governor has not made up

his mind on the perceived 2023 ambition, insisting the time was still not right.

Tinubu had also declared recently that he has not made a decision on the 2023 ambition, saying he is preoccupied with offering the administration of Buhari credible advice and direction to deepen his successes in the administration’s thematic areas.

But his followers are leaving no stone unturned to actualise his ambition.

One of the strong support groups of Asiwaju is the Tinubu 2023, Not Negotiable (TNN) which celebrated its one-year anniversary recently

Akeredolu Orders Quick Fix On Deplorable Road

IBB In Fresh Spotlight, Speaks On Memoirs, Coup

SToRieS By SAmAilA iShAku wiTh Agency RepoRT

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has apologised to residents and motorists plying the Orita Obele Road over its bad and deplorable condition after a story by SaharaReporters.

The governor said he accepted the blame for the bad state of the roads,

Many would have thought Nigeria’s former President and self-styled evil genius General Ibrahim Babangida, IBB, has gone into oblivion politically and otherwise but he is still somewhat active, dishing out some of his position on issues.

Against the backdrop of recent political development in Mali, which witnessed a military coup, he has averred once again that military intervention in politics today is an aberration.

Babangida himself, a product of military rule spanning nearly two decades listed some obvious reasons why he thinks any soldier that plots coup at this moment “is stupid.”

Babangida held out that so many factors are against the military rule, especially because it is no longer accepted globally.

Speaking on Channels Television

which had caused many residents and motorists untold hardship.

He spoke while featuring on a radio program on Sunshine 96.5 FM, Akure, the state capital.

Akeredolu noted that it was “very unfortunate” that the Orita Obele road, which also leads to the government-owned media station,

on Friday night, October 2, IBB said, “Military intervention is an aberration and I don’t think we should encourage the military at all.

“From about 1989 till now, things have changed. The whole world has embraced democracy, economic reform, open market and so on and so forth.

“There’s no place for the military in

on the road to alleviate the suffering of the people on the route.

He said, “I even thought the road had been completed but I know the rain was part of the problem for the delay and this is not fair at all.

“It is always a difficult task constructing roads during the rainy season but the mistake the contractors made was to start it slowly before it was abandoned and when the

another reason for the delay was that he wanted to do a thorough job of it.

“I am scared of somebody suing me to court to say that I libeled somebody or that I misrepresented somebody and I will spend five years going to court,” Babangida said.

When asked of his friends’ opinion about being bound by the oath of secrecy to keep some issues to himself, he responded: “Don’t forget, not only in Nigeria but throughout the world.

“For a certain number of years beyond which anybody will punish you, for opening the secret because you have passed a certain period.

“It (memoirs) will come but if it doesn’t come my children will go into the classroom and research. Everything that will need research about us we have in abundance. I know that General Obasanjo has a library that is very rich.”

was neglected by contractors for many months.

The governor added that his administration should be held responsible by residents of the area for abandoning the roads for more than a year.

While noting that it was the rainy season in the state, Akeredolu said he would reach out to the state’s Ministry of Works to commence some patching

those things that are being accepted now. It is best done by politicians and the civilians so the world is becoming closer together.

“Only a stupid soldier will attempt a coup now because the moment you take over a government you find…if you are in West Africa subregion, ECOWAS will come after you, African Union will come after you, European Union will come after you, the superpowers will come after you and everything you have to do in terms development politically and otherwise will not be accepted until you belong to the comity of nations because you are not going to work alone.

The former military leader who also took time to speak on his yet to be published memoirs admitted he is taking a long time in writing his same because he is scared of being sued.

IBB, while speaking also said

Critics read political undertone

admitting more members into its fold and inaugurating executives in the Diaspora.

According to the founder of the group, Hon. Kunle Okunola, so far executives of TNN have been inaugurated in 13 countries including France, United Kingdom and some African countries all working to make the 2023 project of Asiwaju a reality.

Okunola, a former organising secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos before defecting to the ruling APC, was quoted as insisting that no amount of campaign of calumny could stop the emergence of Asiwaju as the next president of the country.

He said Tinubu did not only have the capacity and skills to lead the country but appealed more to a non-partisan citizenry as the only 2023 candidate that could “rediscover” the country and take it to the Promised land.

Okunola noted that some politicians had launched campaigns of calumny against Asiwaju not because they had the interest of the country at heart but they were “being haunted by the reality” of Asiwaju becoming the next president.

He said they were determined to destroy him before 2023 but that their plot and “campaign of calumny” could not stop the APC leader.

According to him, it is only the president and Asiwaju that are currently holding the foundation of the APC with Buhari in the North and Tinubu in the South.

Another APC chieftain and former member, Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Dipo Olounrinu said the APC leader has the pedigree of achievements to rule the country and urged Nigerians to give him the chance when he eventually shows interest.

He said Tinubu has not only made people but contributed immensely to the growth of the party and stood firmly by the party after working for its victory in the 2015 and the 2019 elections.

rain started. “Yes, I take the blame for the delay

in the construction of the roads and for not coming here to check on them if they were actually on their duty. I take the responsibility for it once again.

“And I want to plead with the people to forgive us. We are going to call on the Ministry of Works to order their people and contact those In charge to start the work and begin to do them slowly for the benefit of the people.”

Some residents, who spoke during a phone-in session on the programme, commended SaharaReporters for bringing the issue to public light.

The road also links many towns and communities within the state capital and Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo.

politics & policy e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng






By MariaM Sanni

Nigeria with a population of over 180 million people has approximately 200 psychiatrists, meaning one psychiatrist to 1.8million Nigerians. Statistics has it that 3 out of 10 Nigerians suffer from one form of mental disorders.

The dearth of mental health and lay counseling knowledge has led to an increase in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide rate in Nigeria and a poor ranking of Nigeria’s heath sector.

According to psychologists, counseling is a process of helping and empowering people to solve their problems.

Training of Mental Health First-aiders and Lay Counselors across the nation is a means of closing this gap of inadequate personnel.

In a survey, about 2/3 (64%) of Nigerian employees are at risk of employee burnout, a condition caused by excessive and prolonged stress, says a new report from a survey conducted by WellNewMe, a health technology company.

The survey, which gathered information regarding the risks of burnout faced by employees in Nigeria, said that the condition could lead to significant mental non-communicable health challenges.

It described burnout as a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, occurring when an individual feels overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet constant demands. “People suffering from burnout often experience emotional, mental and physical exhaustion, and this can have serious physical and mental health related consequences, from which it can take a long time, and a lot of treatment, to recover,” it said.

The survey showed that 64% of employees have an increased risk of burnout, with women having a slightly higher risk than men. According to it, nearly 2 in 10 employees would require immediate assistance as they were already demonstrating behaviours which indicated that they were at crisis point.

It said that consequences of burnout include excessive stress, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, anger or irritability, alcohol or substance misuse, heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and vulnerability to illnesses such as cold and malaria.

Others are excessive stress, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, anger or irritability.

“People with burnout can be irritable, unpredictable, isolated, frustrated, confrontational, irrational, and very hard to be with. This can have catastrophic consequences for a family, in the workplace, or for friendships. Women have a slightly higher risk than men.’’

The report also found that the condition leads to presenteeism (working when unwell), absenteeism, and an increase in turnover of staff which costs companies much more.

It said that 6 in 10 employees were at an increased risk from suffering from physical exhaustion and 49% were at an increased risk for emotional exhaustion with an increased risk of suffering from depression. According to it, 3 in 10 of all employees are at an increased risk for mental exhaustion and about 40% of Nigerian employees were found to be an increased risk for spiritual exhaustion.

It noted that the condition is often ignored

as studies on burnout among Nigerian employees are very limited, despite the devastating impact it could have on individuals, businesses, and the society at large.

As part of an effort to reduce the risk of mental health issues in the society, the Support Nest Initiative has planned to train about one thousand wives of military personnel across the country on lay counseling and management of mental health issues.

While speaking at the first phase of the workshop which was held in Lungi Barracks, Abuja, the Director of Support Nest Initiative, Mrs. Bukola Ugbuji explained that the training was put together in collaboration with Ilera Initiative to train the wives of military personnel to become mental health counselors for effective management of issues.

She noted that this is to create a society where mental health enthusiasts and community social workers will have basic mental health and lay counseling skills to give first-contact mental health assessments and psychosocial support to help seekers in their local community while making referrals in cases requiring more specialized interventions.

Ugbuji added that the objective of the training is to provide mental awareness and support to a person suffering from mental health illnesses, especially service, women, and their families. She lamented that the mental health of the military wife has been neglected and as one of the officer’s wives who know the pains and would not want others to pass through the same.

According to her, while the military has psychologists and psychiatrists to look after the men, it seems as their families are neglected. At the end of the day, there are not enough military psychologists to go round. “We are going to set up groups and distribute fliers and notifications to people across Barracks. We will tell them to call a particular number if they need to talk. The number will be routed to the women who will then be able to offer counsel.

“Living and caring for the family member experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ,PSTD, could be challenging, that is why we

have compiled the list of ways to support the affected family member.”

She revealed that the organization also holds sensitization workshops and campaigns within the barracks and military formations to raise awareness of mental health issues particularly those common within the military.

The facilitator and Special Programmes Coordinator for ILERA Community Health Initiative, Nigeria, Yomi Oloko revealed that its programme which was funded by the African Foundation for Development, UK was aimed at supporting training on mental health, a topic which is necessary especially with the trauma and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated that the women are trained to be lay counselors, explaining that the lay counselors were ordinary people who want to be a helper or support people who have mental issues by listening to them and urging them to open up and talk to find their own solution to the issues they face.

“Lay counsellors are important particularly now that we have a lot of issues around depression and anxiety, especially with the COVID-19. A lot of people are worried and they need people they can talk to sometimes, they need independent or neutral people.”

The Commanding Officer, 7 Guards Battalion, Lieutenant colonel Muktar Daroda who observed that mental health cases could lead to some addictive habits agreed that the workshop would impact positively on the participants.

One of the participants, Kauna Auta, commended the organization for the training saying it will go a long way to help her handle people with mental health issues.

“Also, our personnel who are out there in the North-east and North-west might come back with trauma because of what they have experienced. The training is a welcome development because it is going to have a positive impact on our soldiers, the spouses and our families

Also, Mrs. Zainab Mohammed said they have been empowered with the basic knowledge for the management of mental health issues.

Lay Counsellors: Filling The Gap Of Mental Health Care Givers In Nigeria

People suffering from burnout often experience emotional, mental and physical exhaustion, and this can have serious physical and mental health related consequences.

“



@aljazirahnewsng


Follow us on twitterspecial featureOctober 5 – October 11, 2020




Raffia Fabrics: The Essence Of High FashionThe decline in use of raffia fabric can be attributed

to the rise in use of imported synthetic fabrics. However, the fashion world continuously relies upon using raffia fabric in modern day designs

of garments, footwear, bags, hats and also in home furnishings. This year’s season will definitely witness a lot of fresh prints and fabrics, and many bigwigs in the fashion world have shown a feeling towards using raffia fabric in garments to come up with innovative and fresh looks. The flawless straw-like natural raffia material is a perfect choice for the designers who want to experiment with ethnical and tribal prints. While the raffia fabric is a natural selection for floppy hats and beach bags, there are also unexpected ways to wear this trend. Structured dresses made out from raffia fabric for beachside cocktail parties to casual tribal-print dresses and shirts are something to look forward to this season.

It’s quite surprising how the raffia bag is trending, is it that the cool girls no longer want the Versaces or Channels

but something as “common” as a woven bag? Well, for now! Woven bags have taken over! It’s the coolest accessory you can have if you want to join the cool-girl club. Recall that one of the biggest accessory trends. The rattan or hand-woven bag is what we currently love! We love how fashion bloggers on Instagram have brought this bag to our attention! Round, square, fruit-shaped or over-sized find this bag somewhere on your explore page. This is a cross body bag made from original raffia straw in northern Nigeria and has become a major fashion statement bag. It comes in various colors and designs and specific designs can be made on order as well.

Raffia fabrics are among the few other rich fabrics that bestow upon the garment an unparalleled appeal without being cruel on nature. The production of the fiber is simple and its end users are many. These factors have ensured that today raffia fibers are used in various parts of the world and used in products ranging from hats to rich evening dresses. It is a fabric that can make any moment special and thus it is reserved exclusively for special occasions.

By Alagbe Ayomidefashion & style



@aljazirahnewsng










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Actress And Humanitarian

ANGELINA JOLIE

Talk about Nollywood without Angelina Jolie, and your story would be incomplete. This is because she is one versatile actress who interprets whatever roles she is given. And to

complement heh roles and huge take-home, she engages in humanitarian activities across the globe. Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian, and is a recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards, she has been named Hollywood’s highest-paid actress multiple times.

She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin’ to Get Out (1982), and her film career began in earnest a decade later with the low-budget production Cyborg 2 (1993), followed by her first leading role in a major film, Hackers (1995). She starred in the critically acclaimed biographical cable films George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Girl, Interrupted (1999). Her starring role as the video game heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) established her as a leading Hollywood actress. She continued her action-star career with Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), and Salt (2010), and received critical acclaim for her performances in the dramas A Mighty Heart (2007) and Changeling (2008), which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her biggest commercial success came with the fantasy picture Maleficent (2014). In the 2010s, Jolie expanded her career into directing, screenwriting, and producing, with the war dramas In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011), Unbroken (2014), and First They Killed My Father (2017).

In addition to her film career, Jolie is noted for her humanitarian efforts, for which she has received a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

and made an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, DCMG, among other honors. She promotes various causes, including conservation, education, and women’s rights, and is most noted for her advocacy on behalf of refugees as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR.

Early lifeJolie first attended Beverly Hills High School, where she felt isolated among the children of some of the area’s affluent families because her mother survived on a more modest income. She was teased by other students, who targeted her for being extremely thin and for wearing glasses and braces. Her early attempts at modeling, at her mother’s insistence, proved unsuccessful. She then transferred to Moreno High School, an alternative school, where she became a “punk outsider, wearing all-black clothing, going out moshing, and experimenting with knife play with her live-in boyfriend. She dropped out of her acting classes and aspired to become a funeral director, taking at-home courses to study embalming. At age 16, after the relationship had ended, Jolie graduated from high school and rented her own apartment, before returning to

Her biggest commercial success came with the fantasy picture Maleficent (2014).

theater studies, though in 2004 she referred to this period with the observation: “I am still at heart - and always will be - just a punk kid with tattoos.”

CareerJolie committed to acting professionally at the age of 16, but initially found it difficult to pass auditions, often being told that her demeanor was “too dark.”[She appeared in five of her brother’s student films, made while he attended the USC School of Cinema-Television, as well as in several music videos, namely Lenny Kravitz’s “Stand by My Woman” (1991), Antonello Venditti’s “Alta Marea” (1991), The Lemonheads’s “It’s About Time” (1993), and Meat Loaf’s “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through” (1993). She began to learn from her father, as she noticed his method of observing people to become like them. Their relationship during this time was less strained, with Jolie realizing that they were both “drama queens.”

Jolie began her professional film career in 1993, when she played her first leading role in the straight-to-video science-fiction sequel Cyborg 2, as a near-human robot designed for corporate espionage and assassination. She was so disappointed with the film that she did not audition again for a year. Following a supporting role in the independent film Without Evidence (1995), she starred in her first Hollywood picture, Hackers (1995). The New York Times critic Janet Maslin wrote, “Kate stands out. That’s because she scowls even more sourly than [her co-stars] and is that rare female hacker who sits intently at her keyboard in a see-through top.” Hackers failed to make a profit at the box office, but developed a cult following after its video release.

Humanitarian WorkFor years Angelina Jolie has led a double life as one of Hollywood’s most prestigious actresses and secondly, as a philanthropist recognized for her extensive charity work. Over the weekend, the A-Lister stepped out for yet another important cause. On Saturday, June 8, 2019, the 44-year-old visited a refugee camp at the border of Venezuela in Maicao, Colombia where she was all smiles during the reopening between the two countries. The mother-of-six spent the afternoon greeting children and meeting with parents.

The Oscar-winning actress also met with the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque to advocate for the children of Venezuelan immigrants, who were left in limbo after their parents fled from the country’s social-economic crisis. There’s no question Angelina’s will to help others has earned her an honorary title. Scroll through the gallery for more on how Angelina has helped and continues to serve others.

The Hollywood star, who is an envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees since 2001, is known for her constant participation in charity work. Although her career as an actress has put her in the spotlight, the Mr. and Mrs. Smith star is also praised for her will in helping others, who are less fortunate.

In 2005 Angelina donated funding to found the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children. The following year she raised awareness for Yele Haiti, the Wyclef Jean’s foundation.

For years Brad Pitt’s ex-wife has taken her philanthropic efforts around the globe. Back in 2007, Angelina visited a refugee camp in Chad to raise awareness for thousands of refugees fleeing from Darfur. In 2008, the UNHCR ambassador made a trip to Afghanistan to ask for international assistance for refugees from Pakistan.

Jolie adopted three of her children from third-world countries and continues to aid their home countries. Maddox, 17, who she adopted from Cambodia, has a youth organization set up in his honor. Pax, 15, who she adopted from Vietnam also has a foundation under his name. And Zahara, 14, who was born in Ethiopia follows under her older siblings.

Nigerian music superstar, Adedamola Adefolahan popularly known as Fireboy has hit another landmark in his career as his hit single ‘Scatter’ made the list of songs that would be played on popular football game, Federation Of International Football Association, FIFA 21.

FIFA football is one of the most played soccer games globally after PES, Pro Evolution Soccer. The game is played on computers, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles.

Fireboy broke the record to be the second music star, whose music would be played on the main soundtrack of FIFA after ASA’ ‘Jailer ’featured in the FIFA 2012

Nigerian celebrities seem to be recognized by international agencies, fashion brands, the federal government and more, as they keep bagging mouth-watering endorsement deals and appointments.

Recently, Nigerian talented Nollywood star, Stephanie Okereke was appointed by the Nigerian federal government as the National Ambassador to Organized Private Sector In Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, OPS-WASH.

The stunning actress made this information known via her instagram handle. She posted: “Good Morning Amazonians and Warlords, I have been appointed as National OPS-WASH Ambassador by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources.-Details; In his address, Engr. Adamu charged Mrs Linus to inspire behavioral change among Nigerians for people to take responsibility for their environment in her role as OPS-WASH Ambassador.”

Fireboy, Rema Feature On FIFA 21 Soundtrack

Stephanie, Others Get Juicy Appointments

Yemi Alade Appointed UNDP Goodwill Ambassador

edition.The hit single ‘Scatter’ has

widely been enjoyed by fans. The song has been streamed over 30 million times on Spotify and other mainstream platforms.

Alongside Fireboy, Anthony Joshua, popular Nigerian and British boxer also features in the FIFA21 game as a playable football character.

Joshua will be a playable character in the video game’s “Volta” mode – in which players are able to test their skills in a small-sided game with five-a-side rules.

The heavyweight champion is being introduced as a “Groundbreaker”, alongside

“While applauding her efforts with the “Hygiene First campaign, he also implored her and her team to map out different activities that would encourage environmental sustainability across the nation. Also present is Dr Nicholas Igwe who is the National coordinator for OPS-WASH.

“The premise of OPS-WASH

and the importance of a green and equitable recovery for all.”

Having participated in the launch of UNDP’s Mission 1.5 climate action initiative earlier this year and promoted UNDP’s COVID-19 response efforts, Alade has already proven to be a valuable and powerful voice for UNDP.

Most recently, she joined UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner in delivering opening remarks at UNDP’s High-Level Political Forum, HLPF, which focused on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on those without any social protection.

Alade joins UNDP during a milestone year that marks the UN’s 75th anniversary and the launch of a Decade of Action for the world to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

She is joining a roster of UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors, which includes globally celebrated actors, athletes, musicians and other high-profile influencers.

The star has successfully released four albums and many hits, rising to become one of the biggest Afro-pop female artists on the African continent, and the first African female Afro-pop artist to hit over 100 million views on YouTube.

She is an award-winning artist, bagging numerous awards and recognition. In 2018 and 2019, she won the Headies Award for Best Performer and made the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.

In 2016, she won the Independent Music Award for Best Album and MTV Africa Music Award for Best Female. She also won the Nigeria Entertainment Award for Female Artist of the Year. She also collaborated with Beyoncé and, in 2019, was featured on Beyoncé “The Lion King: The Gift” album.

The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, has named Nigerian Afro beats singer, Yemi Alade, its goodwill ambassador.

Upon hearing the news, the stunning singer took to her twitter handle to express her excitement at the prospect of championing the sustainable development goals of the UNDP and is ready to offer innovative solutions to diverse global issues.

The international superstar stated: “Women are among the 4 billion people who are trying to survive Covid-19 without any form of social protection. I want to lend my voice to these women and other vulnerable people who make up half of the world that is struggling to make ends meet. They don’t have the luxury of working from home and are putting their health at risk just to put food on the table.”

“But as we address poverty and inequality in our COVID-19 recovery plans, we can’t put climate change on the back burner. Climate change and poverty go hand-in-hand, and neither is gender-neutral. Women in developing countries, such as my homeland Nigeria, are disproportionately affected by both.”

Reacting to this appointment, UNDP’s Administrator Achim Steiner. Posted a video on his twitter handle to Congratulate the Nigerian star.

He said: “We can’t wait to hit the ground running with you, Yemi. We look forward to hearing and sharing the issues that you are passionate about -- including women’s empowerment and tackling inequality.”

“We at UNDP will also be working to amplify your voice on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in developing countries

Kaka, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, Atletico Madrid youngster Joao Felix and FIFA 21 cover star Kylian Mbappe.

Other Nigerians who feature on the Soundtrack are Divine Ikubor popularly called Rema with ‘Beamer’ and a British rapper of Nigerian descent Santan Dave, with his song ‘Location’. ‘Location’ also features Grammy-nominated Nigerian superstar, Burna Boy.

This recent development marks a great few years for African artists and ‘Afrobeats.’ A few years ago, Shaku Shaku featured as a celebration on the NBA 2K19 video game.

is based on multi-stakeholder collaboration. He thus expressed excitement for the involvement of the entertainment industry in the WASH sector in creating behavioral change.As the OPS- WASH Ambassador, Mrs. Linus promised that she will use her role to challenge Nigerians to make good hygiene a culture, as well as inspire citizen participation and responsibility. This appointment comes as public sector recognition of the Hygiene First campaign which she launched in May 2020.”

In the same vein, popular BBNaija housemate Tolanibaj bags endorsement deals as the Ambassador to fashion brand, PayPorte.

PayPorte announced the good news via their social media handles, as they expressed their desire to maintain an amazing relationship with the BBNaija star. Fans of the reality star have sent in their congratulatory messages to Tolani on her new deal. YemiStephanie

StorieS By By LoiS effiongentertainment & arts e-mail: [email protected]


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Heartbreaking decision When searching aggressively for solutions, sometimes it is very hard to find. Flowing with the moment, keeping your head up high sometimes does the trick.

I used to be one of those individuals, constantly searching for a life partner. My Instagram feed is always filled with pictures of perfect couples, curdling up. I would always fawn and ask, ‘God when my man will surface?’ But the moment I stopped looking and decided to focus on myself, that’s when Tony, my ex from secondary school and Wale, the new accountant in my office came into my life.

Tony and I dated during the last four years of my secondary school education and it was one of the best experiences ever. He was lovely and so kind to me but we were going to different universities so that is how the relationship ended even though we didn’t want it to. I never thought I would see him again until I bumped into him at a bank some months ago. We’ve been talking since and old feelings are resurfacing.

While Wale on the other hand is the new charismatic accountant at my office. He comes to my department every day with a smile on his face to talk to me about random things and we have so much in common. Inevitably, I started catching feelings.

Tony has been talking about picking up things from where we left off while Wale is being more discreet and subtle but he told me he’s looking for something more than a friendship.

Months ago, my prospects for a loving partner seemed hopeless but now; I have two people to choose from. I have a history with Tony and he is wonderful to me but Wale is a new experience and he makes me so happy. I don’t know what to do.

LoVe doctor’s resPonseWhatever is meant for you will come to you no matter how long it takes and it is my belief that no one can change that. This is the reason why it is best to be patient and not stress over these things.

I understand your frustration at the fact that these two men have come into your life suddenly and the problem of having to choose is never easy but it is something you will have to do.

You said you have feelings for the two of them but you need to examine them. These feelings with Tony are old feelings resurfacing. The Tony you dated and the Tony today are two different people and you need to know if your feelings are for the old Tony or the present one.

In order to make this decision, you have to smartly decide on who you would like to move forward with. If you choose one person over the other you have to be able to let go of the person you don’t want to be with, and not expect him to wait for you. At the end of the day, follow what you truly want. Don’t rush and don’t let anyone pressure you.

sHattered reLationsHiPGood friends always make sure to give advice on particular situations so you don’t fall victim for something you could easily have avoided. But it can be tricky trying to decide whether you should listen to this advice.

I met a guy online and I liked him almost instantly because of his sense of humour. When we met up for our first date, I enjoyed myself and we had so much fun.

But when I told my friend about it and showed her pictures of this guy, I found out that he had dated my friend’s cousin before and it had ended badly. My friend told me so many negative things about him and advised me against going into a relationship with him for my own good. But the problem I have with all this is that she has never actually met him and got all her information from her cousin. I told her I would have to think about it but she opposed it and told me to end it.

I respect my friend’s opinion but I don’t want to end something that might be good for me. What should I do, Love doctor?

LoVe doctor’s resPonseThere are always different sides to a story and you have to hear all of them before making conclusions. If not, you might make a huge mistake.

We have to be cautious of the information we allow to affect our lives. It is important to listen to your friend’s opinion but you have to acknowledge that she is biased in the situation because she only heard one side of the story.

You should ask him about his own side of the story too and then you can make your conclusion. Explain this to your friend and hopefully she will see that it’s your decision to make and not hers. But don’t end something that has been good thus far because of the negative comments of an ex and see how it goes.

Dear Love Doctor

Share troubling emotional issues with us @ [email protected] or 09095628890 (sms/whatsapp only)

By Johnson AmusAn

All through the times he contested elections, he was my candidate. I supported and campaigned for him. He earned my respect because I witnessed War the Against Indiscipline, WAI, days when he was head of state, following the overthrow of the rapacious government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1983. Among other factors, I believed that his WAI brought orderliness in the country. To me too, he performed well as a Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, chairman. And when later Gani Fawehinmi showed him off as his friend, my preference for him was deepened. Thus, I was among those who strongly believed in his change mantra, just like the woman (the patient) mentioned earlier did, when he came to the race the fourth time. And I blindly campaigned for him. I had no doubt that he had the medicine to cure the ailments ailing Nigeria. That he was even the cure for the sickness that was ravaging the land.

Buhari had said that when he assumed office, he would discourage medical tourism by improving the healthcare facilities in the country to international standards. And that in no situation would he allow any government official to go on spending government money on medical treatment abroad. Lo and behold, he was the first to hop on the plane for medical treatment abroad once he sat in the saddle of power...

I carried this campaign to India, where I had an encounter with an Igbo man. He was an established fellow in India who however was still emotionally and psychologically attached to his home country, Nigeria. Anytime we met, our discussion usually centred more on the political happenings in Nigeria. He was passionately interested in who would become the president of Nigeria. Yet, it occurred that we had made up our minds

I had no doubt that he had the medicine to cure the ailments ailing Nigeria. That he was even the cure for the sickness that was ravaging the land.

“

on our preferences - he was for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was then the incumbent president, while I was solidly behind Buhari. He gave many reasons why Buhari should not be our president. To him, Buhari is an ethnic jingoist, a religious fanatic and that he would cause so much bloodshed if he assumed the leadership of the country. He equally felt Buhari would drag the nation backward by the economic policies he was going to adopt. Since a beloved person does not possess stains, I would block my ears to whatever misgivings he had against Buhari. I saw his rantings as more of ethnic venoms, and for me, Jonathan had disappointed everyone beyond redemption. I would however proffer the brighter angles of Buhari to him on why he

should be our president. But one day when we met each other again, he was not ready for a lengthy discussion at that time, but he warned me that I was going to regret my decision in supporting Buhari. I was adamant! Nevertheless, that warning kept a permanent ring in my mind and I would not only pray for Buhari to win but that he should not disappoint our nation.

Notwithstanding, most Nigerian patients I came across in India wanted him and prayed hard for his emergence; he had the medicine, they would say. There was even one elderly patient from Kogi State, who was urging his doctor to speedily attend to him so he could go back to Nigeria in earnest, because he could not afford to miss the election. He thought it could be his one vote that would grant Buhari the key to Aso Rock. Therefore, in our guest house, we were rolling over one another in celebration when Buhari was eventually announced as the winner of the 2015 presidential election. It was BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) that first made the announcement, which caused the initial rapturous joys when it said that Jonathan had called Buhari to congratulate him.

– Johnson Amusan wrote from Lagos.

No Medicine In Nigeria (II)

Ehanire





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Follow us on twitterMattersOf TheHeart

NIGERIA



VacanciesCompiled BY loiS eFFioNG

(1.) Job Vacancy At 247 Food Limited247 Food Limited is the largest Food and Grocery online market place that offers both Wholesale and Retail Services across a wide range of Food and Groceries products with delivery mandate, same day and a maximum of 48 hours. They are recruiting to fill the position below:Job Title: Sales RepresentativeLocation: Lagos

Job Description And Responsibilities• Our company is looking for a Sales Representative to

generate leads and meet sales goals.• Duties will include sales presentations and product

demonstrations, as well as negotiating contracts with potential clients.

• We look for a deep understanding of the sales process and dynamics, and superb interpersonal skills. Previous experience in a sales role is an advantage.

• Negotiating all contracts with prospective clients.• Understanding and promoting company programs and

products.• Preparing and submitting sales contracts for orders.• Visiting clients and potential clients to evaluate needs or

promote products and services.• Answering client questions about products, prices and

availability.• Helping determine pricing schedules for quotes,

promotions, and negotiations.

Requirements• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics or

related field.• Candidates should possess a minimum of 3 years work

experience.• Superb interpersonal skills, including the ability to quickly

build rapport with both customers and suppliers.• Experience using computers for a variety of tasks.• Competency in Microsoft applications including Word,

Excel, and Outlook.• Able to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment.• Understanding of the sales process and dynamics.

How To ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the “Job Title” as the subject of the emailApplication Deadline: 15th October, 2020.

(2.) Job Vacancy At Chemonics InternationalChemonics International is one of the world’s leading partners in international development, because where Chemonics works, development works. They are recruiting to fill the positions of:Job Title: Integrated Supply Chain Planning AdvisorLocation: Abuja

Job DescriptionØ This scope of work (SOW) sets forth the services to be provided by the Integrated Supply Chain Planning Advisor to SAII Associates Limited / Gte, an associate company of Chemonics International Inc. in the implementation of the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program - Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Nigeria.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities• Provide technical support to the National and State

Governments and partners in the development of health products inventory management strategy to guide efficient health product positioning for an optimized warehousing and distribution services.

• Support national long-term inventory planning and warehouse network optimization to facilitate timely and efficient distribution of required health products to the clinics.

• Support integrated business-planning processes on health commodity management, in-flow and outflow of the products from national and international sources to the clinics.

• Support the collaboration with Deliver and Return Team in development of efficient long-haul distribution plan to maximally utilize warehouse and distribution infrastructures, manage product shelf life and minimize

expiry of health products.• Support the management of aggregated end-to-end

commodity demand planning and inventory positioning to ensure uninterrupted access to essential health commodities at the clinics.

• Support the development of long-term forecast of clinic requirements to guide efficient and effective deployment of third-party logistics providers’ assets to support service delivery.

• Provide national support in supply chain system design, implementation and reviews in line with program changes that will improve access to health commodity needs to patients.

• Support the development of a synchronized inventory management activities in collaboration with forecasting and supply planning team, deliver and return team and state-based field program teams to increase visibility and prompt decision-making based on available data.

• Facilitate the development and sharing of months of stock information as required by GHSC-PSM Home Office to monitor national and facility level stock availability data.

• Facilitate capacity development of Government at the National and State levels in the establishment of system for periodic stock status review, presentation and dissemination for decision-making.

• In collaboration with the Management Information Systems, team review available logistics data and support development of national stock status report to inform forecasting, supply planning and procurement decisions.

• Provide technical support to health program procurement and supply management technical working group (PSM-TWG) meetings on national inventory management.

• Collaborate with the M&E team to develop and update necessary tools needed for logistics data management and use on health commodities supply chain.

• Support the development of appropriate supply chain presentations and reports on current situations, innovations and supply chain solutions that will promote sustainable systems.

Job Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree Pharmacy, Public Health, Medical

Laboratory Science, Supply chain operations and equivalent is required. Master’s degree is an added advantage

• Three to five years of professional experience in health programs, preferably in an international healthcare supply chain management environment

• Specific experience in HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, FP & MNCH programs desired

• Demonstrated ability to monitor health supply chain programs

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.• Excellent technical writing and oral presentation skills

highly desired.• Fluency in English is required

How To ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should visit the link below: https://chemonics-ghsc-psm-nga.formstack.com/forms/531_188_integrated_supply_chain_planning_advisorApplication Deadline: 12th October, 2020.

(3.) Recruitment At Chibeco Oil And Gas Nigeria LimitedChibeco Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited is a Nigerian owned Oil and Gas trading company with headquarters located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. They are committed to marketing the best quality and accurate quantity of NNPC specification/standard petroleum products to our customers in record time. They are recruiting to fill the position below:Job Title: CookLocation: Port Harcourt, Rivers

Responsibilities• Prepare food according to menu, including special requests,

in a timely and consistent manner• Determine food and supply needs.• Control and minimize waste in the kitchen.• Comply with outlined safety regulations and procedure.• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.• Inspect food products and supplies as needed for quality.• Ensure work environment and stations are clean and

sanitized.

Requirements• At least Senior School Certificate qualification required.• Familiarity with general kitchen equipment and appliances.• Strong working knowledge of food preparation techniques,

cooking methods, and safety and sanitation practices.• Ability to read, comprehend, and follow recipes.• Culinary certification or degree from a culinary school

preferred.• 2-3 years food service or restaurant experience required.• Ability to pass a food service sanitation course.

How To ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.OrNo. 4 Chibeco Avenue,KM 16 Aba / PH Expressway,Port Harcourt - Rivers StateAppliation Deadline: 31st October, 2020.

(4.) Recruitment At Department Of Foreign Affairs, Trade And Development (DFATD)Job Title: Education in Emergencies - Project MonitorLocations: Borno and Yobe

Job Description• The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

(DFATD) seeks to hire a Project Monitor (Consultant) to monitor Canada’s two Education in Emergencies (EiE) projects in Borno and Yobe States, Nigeria.

• The Monitor should specialize in monitoring and evaluation of education projects and Education in Emergencies and associated humanitarian issues in the Northeast.

• The monitor will advise Canada and its implementing partners on how to strengthen project delivery and outcomes in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy; assess key education and related humanitarian issues in the Northeast and their implications for Canada’s EiE programming; and advise on how to better consider and integrate “nexus” approaches (development, humanitarian, and security streams) into Canada’s EiE programming.

• Participate in, and/or provide technical support to GAC staff participating in initiatives and meetings of relevant working groups, other donors, and federal and state authorities.

• Facilitate and coordinate development meetings such as meetings with individuals and groups of implementing partners, discussing programmatic priorities, objectives, progress, results, and challenges.

• Review concept papers and proposals and provide timely recommendations to Canada.

• Collaborate with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) staff at mission and headquarters to share information and engage in discussions on Canada’s EiE programming.

• Provide guidance to implementing partners and GAC based on best practice, lessons learned, and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Mandatory Requirements• Applicant must be a Nigerian citizen or legally and

operationally in a position to work in Nigeria.• Applicant must possess minimum of bachelor’s degree

in a directly related field (Social Science, Education, International Development, etc).

• Applicants must have minimum of eight (8) years of recent (within the last 10 years) working experience in the following areas:

• Working with government and/or donors in a technical capacity on education in emergency providing advice (project planning, drafting briefing notes, sectoral analysis, etc), and

• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning of EiE projects. Applicants with strong experience in INGOs may be given consideration. You must explain in the Expression of Interest (EOI) how specifically your experience meets these two (2) criteria.

How To ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should send their CV to [email protected] Application Deadline:18th October, 2020.

Job Vacancies In Your Hands




Suspension Of Nationwide Strike: Nigerians Speak

SALIHU MUHAMMED, STUDENTI am happy that the Nigerian Labour Congress and government were able to reach an agreement that led to the suspension of the proposed strike; all we can do now is to pray that the government fulfills its part of the agreement within the limited time stated so that the Nigerian Labour Congress will not end up embarking on strike.

CALEB JOHNSON, SELF EMPLOYEDI can’t blame the Nigerian Labour Congress for agreeing to suspend the strike, if the congress feels they can provide solutions to the problems without embarking on strike then we are good to go. Strike or not, all we want is for the federal governments to reduce the fuel price and electricity tariff, the poor masses are passing through a lot and can’t afford a living because the expenses are killing and the payment is little. I think the Nigerian Labour Congress is the only one that understands what Nigerians are passing through and are ready to fight for us.

OLUMIDE DORCAS, TEACHERI don’t really have anything to say about this issue because the main reason for this strike was in the agreement between the Federal Government and organized labour, the hike in electricity tariff is to be suspended for a period of 2 weeks, while the new pump price of petrol is to remain unchanged. The NLC agreed to this because they want peace for the country, even the government itself knows that the increase in fuel price and electricity tariff has seriously affected the country’s economy so I just hope something is done to it because we can’t just agree to suspend this strike in vain.

ADEYEMI KILANKO, ENTREPRENEURI don’t agree with the decision of the congress to suspend this strike because it is another ploy of the government to stop the people from fighting for what they want. The spike in fuel price and also the electricity tariff shows how inconsiderate the government is to her citizens. The NLC had the courage to stand up for the people but the government is stifling them with talk of a compromise. And this is what they do. They will stretch it out for as long as they can and when people are not paying enough attention to it, they will come back with the same decision. It is a cycle and it does not stop.

JOSEPH EBELE, SELF-EMPLOYEDMy opinion on this matter isn’t very relevant because it’s not as if the government will listen. But I believe that the suspension of the strike was inevitable. None of these things ever work out as they say it will. When it comes to defying the government and disagreeing with decisions that don’t favour the citizens, it won’t work out. Until Nigerians follow through with their plans, we are not going to see the change we want. If the government can pacify the anger of the people so easily and end up

Following the suspension of the nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the decision of the government to suspend electricity tariff hike for two weeks and allow the increase in fuel price.

AljazirahNigeria’s AYOMIDE ALAGBE and DEBORAH ABIODUN went around the city of Abuja to get the response of Nigerians.

not doing anything to remedy that anger in the first place, then what are we doing in this country?

ABDULMALIK SHAIBU, BUSINESSMANThe labour congress should have followed through with their plans to show the government that they are serious. That we are serious and we will not stand for this. The government keeps on making decisions that throw citizens off. We are already finding it extremely hard to survive in this country and they are not making it any easier. I wish the NLC had followed through with their plans because if they had, maybe the government would have realized that they cannot be throwing the citizens around like this. Maybe it would have been the beginning of a new era for Nigeria. But as it is looking, everything will remain the same.

CHIOMA OKON, TEACHERThere is nothing to be done again because the Labour Unions in Nigeria have already suspended their planned nationwide protest and strike over the recent increase in electricity tariff and petrol price in the country. The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had earlier scheduled September 28 for a nationwide rally to protest the hikes. Though, both parties resolved to review their decision in two weeks to see if their agreement with the government is fulfilled. This strike was made on the increase in electricity tariff from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh, while the price of petrol was increased from about N145 to about N161 per liter. Since the unions agreed to suspend the strike after deliberating on the issues and a committee has been set up to find a lasting solution to the problems I just hope something is done fast about it.

CHUKWU EMEKA, BUSINESSMANI am disappointed at the Labour chairman for suspending the strike because of two weeks reversal of electricity tariff that is unbelievable. I don’t think that the labour chairman had any intention to fight for the right of the poor masses because if he had that intention he would not have given up the fight for just two weeks of enjoyment, who does that?, his loyalty is questionable otherwise he wouldn’t have betrayed poor Nigerians because of two weeks cruise.

ABDULLAHI LAWAL, STUDENTAm not sorry to say that nothing is working in this country, no congress is working, and to be precise Labour Congress is a failure. How on earth can strike be suspended because of two weeks reversal of electricity tariff, when we have other pressing issues in the country that needs to be fought for, ASUU have been on strike for months now, increase in fuel price, insecurity, injustice, corruption everywhere and Labour congress seems to be fine with all these mess and all they can just pick on is electricity tariff. Everything is just messed up

in this administration.

DARE ADETOLA, ENGINEERFrom the onset I didn’t believe in this strike as a means to reduce electricity tariff, all I saw was some set of individuals looking for public attention which they got but unfortunately the public got to know their real intention and reacted badly. We have always been deceived, what good can two weeks reversal of electricity tariff do in all of these damages we are in now. Nigeria is a past tense.

FAROUK BALOGUN, TRADERThe question has been longing to ask is that after the two weeks reversal of electricity tariff? What next? Are we going to continue with the increase in electricity tariff and fuel price? I think Nigerians need to think so we can know where we are headed. The Labour chairman needs to understand that Nigerians welfare is greater than any amount of money that might have been collected behind curtains and we need a fearless man to go through this journey.

Oct 1: Falana To Lead Protest On Electricity Tariff, Fuel Price

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Governor Diri Yet To Know Fate As Appeal Court Reserves Judgement

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COVID-19, a gymnast, and coach with Body Language Gymnastics club, Helen Ocheke has lamented that getting back to fitness has been a challenge since the halt of sporting activities as a result of pandemic COVID-19 that is ravaging the world.

In a chat with AljazirahNigeria during the week in Abuja, Ocheke, who led the female gymnastics team to win a bronze at the 12th Africa Games in Morocco last year, said she is doing everything possible to get back to shape.

According to him during the lockdown, I stopped training. I was just engaging in personal exercises but it was not intense.

“It’s difficult getting back to shape. Without exercising for such a long time and coming back to training will expose your body to a lot of aches.

“Our gymnasts in the club have resumed training, but it’s also a lot of work for us as coaches, because the gymnasts are also out of shape.

“Thank God, we have resumed activities, and hopefully we will get better and be ready for forthcoming competitions.”

As the reopening of summer transfer window nears in Europe and the rest of the world, clubs are making concerted efforts to land their targets before the start of a new football season following COVID-19 obstruction. AljazirahNigeria Sports will follow-up and report all the major transfer deals and rumours making the round in Europe and the rest of the world.

Duje Caleta-Car: West Ham has made a bid of £20 million ($26m) for Marseille defender.

Houssem Aouar: Lyon chief Jean Michel Aulas said Arsenal are playing with fire if they still hope to land 22 years France midfielder.

Diogo Dalot: AC Milan are now leading the race to sign Portugal International after Milan return with the second bid

Dele Alli: Tottenham have reportedly told PSG they will not allow England Forward to leave the club in this transfer window.

Daniele Rugani: Juventus: defender wants West Ham transfer despite Newcastle bid and interest in France and Spain

Juan Foyth: Barcelona have rejected a last-minute offer to sign Tottenham defender in favor of pressing ahead for Eric Garcia

Football Transfer Gossip

Next Digital Broadcasting Limited has demanded N7bn damages from the League Management Company (LMC) for alleged breach of agreement in respect of the commercial rights of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

In a letter dated September 30, 2020, obtained by AljazirahNigeria from its lawyer, Rickey Tarfa and Co, Next TV alleged several breaches by LMC in an agreement; it entered with the NPFL organizers.

Among these breaches, Next TV alleged that LMC announced it had given RED STRIKE the same commercial rights it had agreed to transfer to Next TV.

“By your wanton breach of the agreement between yourselves (LMC) and our client,

you have not only caused a reversal of the gains the country has made in the recent past in relation to the development of our football league and industry, you have also caused our clients enormous damages and almost unquantifiable losses with respect to funds committed to infrastructure, hardware and software, human capital and deposits (mostly non-refundable) paid towards the performance of their obligations in the said agreement, not to talk of expected profit all of which in the total amount to the equivalent of N7bn”.part of the letter from the lawyer’s read.

Also, the lawyers said if within seven days of the receipt of this notice, the damages were not paid, Next TV will head to court to seek redress.

NPFL Commercial Rights: NEXT TV Threatens Legal Action Against LMC

Post COVID-19: It’s Difficult Getting Back To Fitness, Ocheke Laments

STORIES By JOEl AJAyI

Sunday Dankaro was a Nigerian businessman and sports administrator who was chairman of the Nigerian Football Association from 1974-1980 and the Nigerian Sports Commission. As chairman of NFA, he had the fortune of seeing the green eagles capture its first African Nations cup trophy which later earned many of the footballer’s cars, houses and awards. Recently, it was observed by many friends of the football federation that Dankoro’s signage has been removed from the walls of the NFF’s newest secretariat and this has brought reactions from fans and family of Dankoro. AljazirahNigeria Sports scooped that the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to detached Sunday Dankaro’s signage from its new head office is not to let the labour of the hero’s past go in vain but just for easy identification.

The NFF on Tuesday removed Sunday Dankaro’s signage from the new Secretariat, built with N337m, by the Presidential Task Force for the 2010 World Cup headed by the then Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi with government’s support to mobilized funds from philanthropies and corporate bodies to support the Super Eagles to qualify for the first-ever on African soil world soccer game.

Nigeria’s football governing

building, named after the former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) as of Sunday Dankaro House, is now carrying the NFF signage.

The Building was commissioned by the then Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo in 2013; comprises 27 rooms with six board rooms, a penthouse and a 120-car parking space a few months after the relocation.

Exactly, on the 18th of July, 2013, Sunday Dankaro House officially opened, but NFF failed to move into the complex on account of not having the funds to furnish the offices until the year 2020 in the month of March after the current Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare gave two weeks ultimatum to relocate to its new head office for smooth operation.

NFF Sunday Dankaro’s building was named after the late business mogul and sports administrator.

AljazirahNigeria exclusively gathered from a reliable source, a top NFF staff, who doesn’t want his name on prints said that NFF ditched the old name (Sunday Dankaro House) to settle for new name (NFF Secretariat) for easy identification.

In a chat with the NFF’s General Secretary, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, he said; the NFF is going to do a formal communication to the people on the reason for the change.

Why NFF Removed Dankaro’s Signage From Secretariat

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Nonetheless, our observers from the Centre for Democracy and Development noted with concern the high level of

the illegal commerce of votes. A number of tactics were used by political actors on both sides of the partisan divide to procure votes. Party officials were seen openly giving voters gifts such as Ankara fabrics, spaghetti packs and other food items. There was also the direct purchase of votes and observers reported cases where tickets were given in lieu of cash, for voters to vote and then return with the ticket for the collection of cash. The amounts paid to votes ranged between N1,000 and N5,000. The scale of vote buying and the brazenness with which it was carried out in the open tainted the credibility of the entire election.

The fundamental question, which arises from the brazen manner in which vote buying was done in the Edo election, is whose responsibility is it to enforce the extant electoral laws of Nigeria, which has criminalised vote buying? I pose this question because law enforcement officials largely looked the other way while vote buying was going on. No efforts whatsoever were made to bring the perpetrators of these acts, which corrupt the electoral process, to book. The consolidation of democracy requires that this process of the

commercialisation of the people’s mandate must be stopped.

Deepening our democracy also requires that candidate selection needs to be carried out democratically as set out in the Electoral Act. The blockage of candidates from a level playing ground in party primaries, resulting in defections from each of the major political parties, intra-party fractionalisation, and disputes over which faction is in control of party secretariats at the state and local government levels must end. Our politics have also become too much of a zero-sum game, in which contestants are ready to destroy political parties and society, if that would lead them to power. It is in this context that the political culture of the abuse of the power of incumbency has become edified.

One commendable innovation that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced in the Edo election was the result viewing portal, which improved transparency and accountability of the collation and declaration of results. Moving forward, this can only enhance citizens’ trust in the electoral process. There was a lot of fear that the Edo election would be conducted under high levels of violence by thugs.

However, there was widespread relief that the level of violence was actually minimal and most citizens who wanted to vote were able to do so. The key stakeholders – INEC, security agencies, political parties and citizens – played their roles largely in accordance with the law and regulations. The 2020 Edo governorship election is therefore another important step in the consolidation of Nigeria’s electoral democracy. The determination shown by the electorate to protect their mandate is a significant takeaway. Peaceful and credible elections are possible and must become the norm in Nigeria.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.


ALJAZIRAH NEWSPAPERS is published in Abuja by ALJAZIRAH NEWSPAPER LIMITED, Plot 11, Dunukofia Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja Tel: (09) 2909054, (09) 2900147, +234 817 227 9943 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.aljazirahnews.com Editor: George Emine. (ISSN: 2449 – 1144)

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Guest Columnist Jibrin Ibrahim

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