Category: Featured

By Our Reporter

Anti-racism organisation, Kick It Out, has criticised European football’s governing body UEFA for failing to abandon Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria after England’s black players were subjected to monkey chants.

The game was twice halted in the first half, with the first being when England manager Gareth Southgate informed the UEFA delegate about incidents and a public announcement was made.

The abuse continued and the Group A match, which England went on to win 6-0, was again temporarily suspended by the referee under a three-step UEFA protocol for tackling abuse.

UEFA said it would announce possible disciplinary proceedings later on Tuesday or on Wednesday once it had received full reports from match officials.

Around 50 black-clad Bulgarian fans, some of whom were seen making Nazi salutes, left the stadium before half-time and the second half was completed without further stoppages.

Kick It Out said it was “sickened by the disgusting racist abuse” and suggested UEFA should have taken stronger action.

“We are encouraged that the protocol was initially enforced by the match officials, but UEFA must explain why players weren’t sent to the dressing room during Step Two, as is clearly stated in the rules.

“TV footage also clearly shows that racist abuse continued in the second half, so it is unacceptable that Step Three was not enforced. This match should have been abandoned by the officials.

“It’s now time for UEFA to step up and show some leadership. For far too long, they have consistently failed to take effective action,” a statement read.

The first step of UEFA’s protocol was enacted after 28 minutes when England defender Tyrone Mings was subjected to abuse and an announcement was made calling on supporters to stop using racist chants.

The second step, according to UEFA’s protocol, is for the players to be sent to the dressing rooms for a specified period.

This was never implemented in Sofia although UEFA said there had been a discussion with the England bench after the second incident and they had agreed to continue as it was so close to half-time.

Step three, according to UEFA, is “after consultation, abandon the match if the discriminatory behaviour still does not cease or breaks out again.”

UEFA is yet to comment officially on the incidents.

The threat of racism had dominated the build-up to the game.

Part of the stadium was empty after UEFA punished Bulgaria for racist behaviour by fans during June’s qualifiers against the Czechs and Kosovo.

Bulgarian supporters also made monkey chants at visiting black players when England last travelled to Sofia for a European qualifier in 2011.

It had prompted UEFA to fine the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) 40,000 euros (about 44,072 dollars).

Kick It Out said the punishments were futile.

“The fact Bulgaria are already hosting this game with a partial stadium closure for racist abuse shows that UEFA’s sanctions are not fit for purpose more pitiful fines or short stadium bans.

“If UEFA care at all about tackling discrimination and if the Equal Game campaign means anything, then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow,” it said.(Reuters/NAN)

By Our Reporter

The meeting between the organised labour and representatives of the Federal Government has been moved till Wednesday, Oct. 16, to allow for sorting out of all grey areas of contention.

A top Labour Official, who pleaded anonymity, hinted that the organised labour had shifted its earlier position from 29 per cent to 25 per cent for grade levels seven to 14, while for levels 15 to 17 now 20 per cent, which was earlier 24 per cent.

The Federal Government has made its earlier position to shift from levels seven to nine to 17 per cent and levels 10 to 14 at 15 per cent.

It also shifted that of levels 15 to 17 to 12 per cent.

The organised labour is demanding 29 per cent salary increase for officers on salary levels 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade levels 15 to 17 .

But the Federal Government had presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade levels 07 to 14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers of grade levels 15 to 17.

At a meeting in Abuja, the Head of Service, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, expressed hope that the meeting would get to a logical conclusion when it reconvenes on Wednesday.

“Today, the Labour side has discovered that there is just one side on the welfare of workers, we have worked very well together today.

“Both sides have made a lot of contentions, but we discovered that there are some grey areas that need to be ironed out.

“Some documents and information are being sourced that they are providing, by the grace of God tomorrow, discussion will continue and we believe that we will be able to get everything resolved.”

Speaking the end of the meeting, Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni, who spoke on behalf of the organised Labour, urged to the Federal Government to shift grounds for agitation ahead.

According to him, the matter is a straight forward matter, negotiations is ongoing we actually thought the meeting will be concluded today but that prediction was not successful, therefore, adjournment became necessary.

” To the best of our knowledge, the struggle will still continue, tommorow, we will meet by 2p.m, and that meeting will determine the fate of the parties, we expect that we close that meeting positively.

“So far, commitment has been shown, but we believe that the areas that are still in contest are critical, therefore, we urge the government also on their part see how they can shift ground positively to integrate the agitations ahead.”

Those at the meeting include: the NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emma Ugboaja, Musa Lawal Ozigi of the TUC, Nuhu Toro (TUC) Lawal Alade Bashir as well as Comrade Musa Abbas while in attendance at the meeting with the Joint National.

Others are: Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, Acting Chairman of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta.

Labour had resorted to the strike option, from Oct. 17, following an apparent inability of the government and labour to find a way out of the minimum wage logjam.

The minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said there is the need for organised labour to set the records straight to workers to understand that current economic realities may not accommodate percentage increase on the minimum wage.

According to him, continued threat of strike action from the organised labour was an intimidation of government and antithetical to the International Labour Organisation principles on negotiations and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“I will also not seat and watch labour intimidate government. If you dangle strike, it is intimidation and ILO Convention does not permit it.

“People should negotiate freely. If government threatens you in the course of negotiation, it is intimidation.

“We cannot allow government to shut down the economy because it wants to pay salaries and wages.

“The 2020 budget of N10.3trillion has N3.8trillion as personnel cost without overhead.

“If you add running cost and other incidental costs, the total recurrent budget as presented to the National Assembly has taken 76 per cent. Where do we get the money to build roads, airport, rails, health centres, schools etc.

“It is a matter of balancing a budget that is 76 per cent recurrent and 24 per cent capital, for me, it is nothing to cheer about.

“In the 76 per cent, government has captured N200 billion for consequential adjustment for the minimum wage and so on. These are all part of personnel.

“N160 billion is for consequential adjustment of the minimum wage and not total package of workers’ salaries. Everybody has to make sacrifice. We must plug leakages.”

He stressed the need for all workers to be incorporated into the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to reduce ghost workers in the public service.

According to him, the ghost workers should go and we should know who the real workers are. As of today, we have 1.3 million persons in the federal civil service and maybe it will be more by the time we finish bringing everybody to IPPIS.

“The number of workers, 1.4 million or 1.5 million out of 200 million people take 33 per cent of the budget which has deficit. It is important we know this. It is up to us to use all the money to pay salaries and the economy will grind to a halt and be like Venezuela.”

It will be recalled that the United Labour Congress (ULC), pulled out of the planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage by the governments.

The ULC president, Mr Joe Ajaero, stated that the group will not be part of an exercise designed to hoodwink Nigerian workers and masses into believing that their interests are being championed.

“Unfortunately, this strike will not have the desired impact and would not achieve the intentions Nigerian workers would want as it is seemingly; dead on arrival as programmed by the hidden interests of those pushing the agenda.

“ULC will not therefore be part of an exercise designed to hoodwink Nigerian workers and masses into believing that their interests were being championed while the contrary may be the case.

“We will neither be part of this ruse nor partake in a complete jamboree that makes a mockery of the genuine struggle by Nigerian workers to begin to enjoy the new national minimum wage.

“Once again, we want to state that we will not be part of this attempt to whittle down the capacity of Nigerian workers and masses to earn the new minimum wage.

“It is a planned sabotage of our collective will and desire to see a new minimum wage and we shall not be part of it,” Ajaero said. (NAN)

By Our Reporter

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has promised to ensure that justice is done for the nine children and victims of kidnapping from the state.

Abba Anwar, the chief press Secretary to the governor made this known in a statement in Kano on Tuesday.

He quoted the governor as saying that the suspected kidnappers already arrested and who were said to have allegedly participated in the heinous act, along with their accomplices would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Kidnapping is seriously abhorred and condemnable. What is more worrisome is the age of the victims, kids for that matter.

“My administration, Kano people and any right thinking individual or groups of individuals, condemn this from all standpoints,” he said.

He pointed out that protection of human rights, irrespective of age, ethnicity, religious or political affiliations, is a strong pillar and a vital responsibility of any government.

According to the governor, no criminal will go scot-free in this and similar developments in the state.

“Government will invite the parents of those rescued from the suspected kidnappers for further discussion and relationship.

“At the same time, we are seriously working with the security agencies to unearth similar cases.

“We are coming up with a powerful committee that will critically look at this disturbing scenario with a view to seeing to the root cause and to avert recurrence.

This and similar crimes must be stopped,” Ganduje assured.

He commended all the security agencies for the role they played in rescuing the kids, while calling on members of the public to continue to cooperate with the security agencies, so as to expose such criminals in the state.

He, however, advised parents to be very vigilant on the movement of their children. (NAN)

By Our Reporter

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as worrisome the low representation of women in governance and leadership in Nigeria.
He said this on Tuesday during the Public Presentation of a report on the 2019 general election by the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF) in Ibadan.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by NWTF in partnership with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) with support from MacAthur Foundation.
The report has as its title ‘Women’s Participation in the 2019 General Elections from an Accountability Perspective: Kano and Oyo States Under Spotlight’ was unveiled at the event.
Yakubu, who was represented by Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, an INEC National Commissioner, said there was no doubt that effective participation of women in electoral process matter was key.
“This has become worrisome as women’s participation in governance and leadership is not only an essential prerequisite for removing gender inequality but also the attainment of basic human rights.
“During the elections, only five out of the 73 candidates who ran for the position of president were women.
1,668 men and 232 women vied for the 109 senatorial seats, while 4,139 men and 533 women contended for 360 seats in the House of Representatives.
“At the end of the election, only seven women won senatorial seats and 11 were elected into the House of Representatives, while four were elected as deputy governors,’’ he said.
He said that the huge efforts made by INEC to support the participation of women in electoral process did not succeed in addressing the decline of women’s representation in politics.
The INEC boss assured all of the commission’s efforts towards advancing the electoral process, pledging to consider every recommendations in the report and those already submitted to INEC.
Also, Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, the Secretary-General, WRAPA, called for collective efforts in sensitising women and the youths, saying things were not working properly in Nigeria because more than 50 per cent of Nigerians had been excluded.
“When I say 50 per cent, I mean women and youths. Women and youths are excluded from our governance structure and the only way we can take them in is when we can speak the fact,’’ Mahdi said.
According to her, it is worrisome to have over 50 per cent of the decision makers in the country at an age over 60 years.
“The business of governance is the business of everybody and that means accountability. We must as a forum of citizens be able to hold our leaders accountable and we must also be accountable,’’ she said.
Ms. Mufuliat Fijabi, Chief Executive Officer, NWTF, said the report was a product of Gender and Election Watch created by NWTF for advocacy, accountability matters and to advance continued progress of women.
She urged women and youths to always participate in all developmental agenda across their various societies as well as the electoral process to ensure accountability.
“Whether we like it or not, election is only an aspect of our governance, it is the determining factor because once the election is ended, we have the people in government for another four years.
Fijabi said that Nigerians must join hands with INEC to make the electoral process work, adding that women can only emerge where the electoral process is devoid of corrupt practices.
“The reality is that INEC will continue to try its best, but we citizens need to understand. The more people sell their votes to their buyers, it reduces the chances of women emerging as candidates.
“The reality is that women do not have the matching power. We, all are critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process and need to make it work,’’ she said.
In their remarks, Mr Mutiu Agboke, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), charged women as well as youths to participate actively in electoral process.
The duo also called on the people to always participate in other societal agenda, saying such was a way to be more relevant to attain leadership positions.
Dr Roselyn Musa, a Consultant, Gender and Development, as well as Mr Jide Ojo, Executive Director, OJA Development Consult, reviewed the contents of the reports presented.
NAN reports that the event was attended by representatives of political parties, religious leaders, women groups, representatives of government agencies and the media. (NAN)

By Our Reporter

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has said that oncological services were very expensive in Nigeria due to the stages of diagnosis involved in confirming cancer diseases.

Ehanire said this at the ongoing annual National Health Dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday.

He regretted that majority of cases were diagnosed in the late stages, saying that early detection of cancer could greatly increase the chances of successful treatment.

The dialogue was organised by Premium Times, an online news medium, Project for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFH), Project Pink Blue and the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF).

The two-day event has the theme: “Universal Health Coverage – The role of State and Non-State Actors in Healthcare funding.”

The minister was one of the panelists during the discussion on “Cancer Control in Nigeria: Sustainable Strategies from Primary Health Care to Tertiary Referral Centres”.

He said that the dialogue was an opportunity for Nigerians to rub minds on the growing health system in the country

Ehanire expressed concern about the high prevalence of cancer, hinting that the government would continue to explore ways of working around to increase support to cancer patients.

He admitted that not all the hospitals across the country had what it takes to detect cancer early, lamenting that most cases escalate beyond control before they are detected.

“Diagnosis, treatment and care of cancers are expensive because of the exacting nature required at each of the stges.

“Unlike any other treatment, cancer must be specifically diagnosed and confirmed before commencing treatment.

“A doctor cannot say you have cancer today, commence treatment and then say sorry, it’s not cancer tomorrow.

”He must make sure, beyond suspicion, and confirm the diagnosis. That costs more,” he stressed.

He stated that health in the country was still a work in progress and involves all Nigerians as partners.

The minister said that the nation’s economy had several challenges to deal with, adding that the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS), could only carry some levels of cancer surgeries and chemotherapy.

He, however, called on governmental and non-governmental organisations involved in creating awareness about cancer and building support for cancer patients, to intensify advocacy to the appropriate authorities and institutions.

Ehanire suggested the institutionalisation of innovative healthcare financing such as special taxes on smoking and telecommunication, with proceeds dedicated to funding healthcare for the vulnerable in the country, as well as cancer patients.

The minister, in an interview with NAN, disclosed that the ministry had inaugurated the Nigeria Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NGI-TAG) members.

Ehanire said that members were saddled with the responsibility of reviewing and recommending potent vaccines into the routine immunisation schedule in the country.

He said that they were also expected to provide independent, informed, evidence-based recommendations around new vaccine introductions, adding that the appointment was for three years.(NAN)

By Our Reporter

Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times online newspaper, has called for special honour to the late Dr Stella Adedevoh, over her bravery that warded off the dreaded Ebola epidemic from Nigeria.

The publisher, who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the 2019 National Health Dialogue organised by the newspaper, said that the brave medic’s heroics should be emulated in the drive for Universal Health Coverage,(UHC), in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), recalls that Adedevoh was the lead consultant physician and endocrinolgist at a private hospital in Lagos, Nigeria when a victim of the dreaded illness arrived into the country.

The medic contracted the disease and died alongside three of her colleagues in the efforts to save the country from the deadly virus,

“Her heroic efforts prevented a major outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria and served as a catalyst for successful government action to contain its spread,” the publisher recalled.

He said that Nigerians must celebrate the medic on Oct. 21, her birthday, to encourage more Nigerians to make sacrifices for the country whenever necessary.

The gathering for the second edition of the National Health Dialogue witnessed lively debates on a wide range of challenges facing the health sector in the country.

The dialogue had the theme: “Universal Health Coverage: The role of State and Non-State Actors in Healthcare Funding and Support”.

Delivering the first goodwill message, the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Yukuta Kikuta, gave an insight into the Nigeria-Japan partnership in strengthening the health sector.

Yukuta explained how President Muhammadu Buhari shared his belief in strengthening the health sector during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

He said that UHC was “ a quintessential example of brand Japan” at TICAD7.

The Ambassador said that the government of Japan had pledged to bring UHC to three million recipients in Africa.

Also in his goodwill message, representative of the Nigeria Governors forum (NGF), Mr Musa Ukaru, said that the forum was delighted to play a part in the dialogue.

Ukaru described the health indicators in the country as “shameful and disturbing”, urging state and non-state actors to spring to action as the theme of the event suggested.

He said that UHC was a top priority of the NGF and announced that the forum was in the process of developing a dashboard that would aid the improvement of access to accelerated UHC.

Ukaru regretted that Nigeria’s records in malarial-related deaths, mortality rate, HIV and other indices were embarrassing, and challenged stakeholders to act fast.

NAN also reports that the dialogue was able to bring together stakeholders in the health and development sectors to discuss the challenges and prospects of UHC in Nigeria. (NAN)

By Our Reporter

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says it is increasing the number of laboratories to enhance capacity for response to outbreak of infectious disease.

Its Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ihekweazu said that laboratory information was critical for infectious disease surveillance and its control.

“Before an outbreak, laboratory-supported surveillance allows early detection of cases. During an outbreak, sample of cases will be taken to the laboratory for tests to assess changes in the etiological agent and to guide decisions about the allocation of resources,” he explained.

The NCDC boss said that laboratory information must be accurate, timely and subjected to quality assurance procedures for response to outbreaks.

He said that the centre had continued to work closely with stakeholders toward improving knowledge on infectious diseases through research activities and epidemiological studies.

“One of these efforts is the collaboration with the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST), to identify other pathogens that may be causing illnesses similar to Lassa fever,” he said.

The NCDC boss shared the vision and priorities of the centre, especially in strengthening the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP) which, he said, was fully integrated within the NCDC.

According to him, NFELTP has remained an avenue for building the capacity of public health professionals and leaders in the field of epidemiology.

“Sharing their work and experience with the global health community will play a critical role in preventing, detecting and responding to epidemics and infectious disease outbreaks,” he explained.

Ihekweazu stated that the centre, supported by the Robert Koch Institute, was setting up a sentinel surveillance system for Hepatitis E in Nigeria.

He however, said that the National Reference Laboratory would serve as the central laboratory for Hepatitis E and Rotavirus diagnosis, working with sentinel laboratory in five Nigerian states.

“This means that we will identify sites that will collect samples from patients who present clinical symptoms similar to Hepatitis E, and send to the NCDC National Reference Laboratory for testing and confirmation,” he explained.

He said that another mile stone by the centre with the support from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health was the hosting of a “MiniON” sequencing regional workshop at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory.

The NCDC boss noted that the goal of the workshop was to improve the centre’s understanding of pandemic Vibrio Cholerae in selected West African countries.

According to him, the workshop drew colleagues from Cameroon and Republic of Niger.

The NCDC boss said that the disease control centre was working with the Dentistry Division of the Federal Ministry of Health and other partners to improve awareness and strengthen the surveillance of “Noma” in Nigeria.

“This week, our team is training surveillance officers in Kebbi state.

“We have held a meeting with local government disease surveillance and notification officers to strengthen surveillance of Noma-affected Local Governments Area in Kebbi, using the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework,” he said.(NAN)