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  • BUHARI LOSES STAFF WHO SERVED HIM FOR 30 YEARS

    BUHARI LOSES STAFF WHO SERVED HIM FOR 30 YEARS

     

    Presidency has announced the death of president Muhammadu Buhari’s domestic staff , Buhari Nalado Sandamu, who served the President and his family for more than 30 years.

    “I have lost a good and honest caretaker,’’ says the President, who offered prayers for the repose of his house keeper, who was better known as “Commander’’.

    “I have lost a prudent and a wonderful custodian who did so well taking care of my country home in Daura. May Allah bless his soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen,” President Buhari added.

    A statement by, Garba Shehu
    Senior Special Assistant to the President on media said,  Buhari has  sent a delegation to the family of the bereaved in Sandamu Local Government Area, Katsina, comprising Senior Special Assistant, Domestic and Household Matters, Sarki Abba, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu and State Chief of Protocol, Amb. Lawal Kazaure.

    The President’s Housekeeper, Saleh Yuguda, was also on the delegation that visited the family of the bereaved.

    “Commander” died at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano on Monday.

     

  • DEFENCE HQTRS DEBUNKS DETENTION OF CHILDREN IN ITS FACILITY IN NORTHEAST.

    DEFENCE HQTRS DEBUNKS DETENTION OF CHILDREN IN ITS FACILITY IN NORTHEAST.

    By Dauda R Pam Maiduguri

    The Defence Headquarters has described as falacious a report released by Human Rights Watch, HRW, accusing the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, of arbitrarily detaining children in it’s detention facilities in the Northeast.
     It raised concern, that while troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) are intensifying effort to ensure lasting peace in the North East (NE), Human Rights Watch (HRW) is set release a report accusing the AFN of arbitrarily detaining children in its detention facilities in the North East (NE).
     It describing the  report as not only false but capable of undermining the joint efforts of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to restore peace in the NE.

    Adding that it is an established fact that Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) usually indoctrinate its victims who are mostly,women and children,who they use as suicide bombers in the theatre of operations.

    The Defence Headquarters said that in the conduct of their operations,troops arrest these children while attempting to detonate explosives and provide tacit support to insurgents such as intelligence on troops movements and deployments.

    And that contrary  to claims by the HRW, the AFN manages children in the North East theatre as victims of war and not as suspects as apprehended children are kept in secured places, where they are adequately fed, profiled and de-radicalized before their release.

     According to the HRW Report, it purported that “since January 2013, Nigerian Authorities have released at least 2,200 children from detention nearly all without charge,which  further attested to the fact that, the children are released to appropriate authorities after de-radicalization efforts by appropriate government agencies and NGOs.

    In its own statement,the Defence Headquarters maitained that was expedient to state that only profiled Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists are held in detention pending their prosecution by appropriate prosecuting agencies, as the AFN is not vested with the power of prosecution.

    It also clarified, that aside the set of children involved in acts of terrorism, some adult female Boko Haram terrorists arrested in terrorists’ enclaves during combat have also been found to be with children ,but  that during the process of profiling and investigations the women usually,opt to keep their children rather than hand them over to relations.
    The female terrorists,it added,are kept in the detention facility, their children are given protected care in a welfare holding facility, not a detention facility, where they could be accessed by their mothers under supervision by female personnel just as the children are provided with regular feeding, clothing, requisite medical attention, in-house spiritual and educational tutoring and other welfare needs.
    “The DHQ therefore wishes to state that no children are kept and tortured in any detention facility. The children caught in the act of terrorism are moved to safe facilities such as the Borno State Rehabilitation Centre in Bulumkutu, Maiduguri, and Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, where they are de-radicalized, rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society”.
    Also that”those whose families could not be traced are handed over to IDP Camps officials for administration”,the statement added.

    “It must also be noted that several attempts have been made by these sponsored Rights groups to lay allegations of arbitrary arrests and extra judicial killings at the doorstep of the AFN all in an effort to undermine the successes so far recorded in the ongoing Nigeria’s Counter terrorism and Counter insurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the NorthEast”.
    Ends

  • 830 women globally, dies of pregnancy, nutritional cases daily

     

    By Abel Leonard Nzwanke| Lafia

    NOT fewer than 830 women die on daily basis during pregnancy and nutritional related issues in the world, with African having the highest prevalence rate.

    Nurse, Mercy Aso, revealed this on Tuesday in Lafia while delivery keynote lecture at the opening ceremony of five days intensive Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) organized for Nurses across the state and beyond.

    According to Mrs. Aso, lot of women are suffering from nutritional deficiency that leads to the death of many during pregnancy or at delivery period, hence the need to focus attention on the health nutrition of mothers and their children to reduce the prevalent cases by way of educating them through Nurses who always relate closely with them.

    “If a woman is not properly educated, she will definitely lacks the technical know how of taking care of her children.

    “There are lot of women suffering from nutrition and statistics have shown that on a daily basis, 830 women globally died of pregnancy and nutritional related issues, and out of these figures, 99 per cent are from the sub- Sahara region which we part of it”, she explained.

    The facilitator,  urged government to refocus and redirect resources to meet up with the SDGs bench mark, urging the government to redirect its spending on health particularly maternal nutrition.

    “Our spending as government is not directed on nutrition, but infrastructure and others things which don’t form the foundation for life.

    “We shouldG redirect our budgetary allocation, the percentage we spend on nutrition must be look at, and how much is released to nutrition.

    “Health worker need to be supported to go for regular training and retraining, because Society is changing and demand is rising, we cannot be relevant with old ideas, so education be prioritised”, she reiterated.

    Earlier, Mr. Alanana Kigbu, who double as the state facilitator and representative of the permanent secretary, Nasarawa state ministry of health, thanks the 120 participants who registered in the mandatory training, adding that the module selected for exercise was carefully chosen to commemorate with what is happening nation wide and international that concerns maternal nutrition and contraceptive technology.

    He added that the committee moved in that direction in order to curtail the harmful diseases affecting the public, advised them not to keep the lessons to be learnt during the five days training, but dispense them to other people in their various communities so as to salvage cases of maternal nutrition in the state and country at large.

    End..

  • Nasarawa lawmakers decries corruption in LGAs

    Nasarawa lawmakers decries corruption in LGAs

    By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/ Lafia
    Nasarawa state house Assembly uncovers ghost workers and other abnormalities in LGS

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, says it has uncovered 30 abnormalities in the local government system in the state.

    Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House revealed this during deliberation on a report to look into the staff salaries and other finances of local governments in the state.

    The speaker who said that the refusal of some staff to submit themselves for the screening exercise at their respective local government levels is uncalled for, adding that the screening exercise will continue consecutively for the next three months in the state.

    Hon. Ibrahim said “Some of the abnormalities discovered are- Ministry for local government prepares Payment Vouchers(PVs) instead of local government and they produces two PVs to siphon monies’

    He further stressed that “There are several ghost workers and these ghost workers are being allocated to directors and Education Secretaries grade levels and there is no audit report since 2016 of the local government in the state.

    “The committee discovered abnormalities especially conflicting figures for pensioners between state and local government.

    “There are duplication of names and arbitrary implementation of grade levels and steps.
    “Despite ban on promotions,there are arbitrary promotions of some local government staff,especially teachers without following due process among others.

    “Before the screening exercise as directed by the state Assembly, only four local government can conveniently pay their salaries 100 per cent but today the number has appreciated to 11 local governments with the exception of Lafia and Nassarawa Eggon local governments that are still battling up,” he said.

    Balarabe-Abdullahi said that the Assembly recommended the separation of the state Pension Bureau from the Local government Pension Bureau were each Bureau will have a Director-General and staff.

    “And that Joint Accounts Committee (JAC) meetings should be only to reconcile accounts of the various local governments and not to distribute funds as it used to be in the past.

    “That the state government should on monthly basis remit the 10 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue(IGR)funds to the local government.
    “That the 5 per cent statutory allocation to traditional council shall henceforth be paid into the consolidated account with the ministry of local government,”he added.

    Balarabe-Abdullahi said that the state ministry for local government should provide the table of payment for the purpose of distribution of the 70 per cent as its affect the graded chiefs in the state.
    The speaker further said that the state assembly would not fold its hands to see local government system collapse ,adding that any one found wanting will be dealt with according of the law of the land.

  • We are concerned about workers welfare says FG

    We are concerned about workers welfare says FG

    By Mary Blaise

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige says the welfare of the Nigerian workers is cardinal to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, hence the unalloyed commitment the Federal Government has continued demonstrate to the upliftment of the nation’s workforce.

    “ The welfare of workers is a cardinal objective of the current administration because the President clearly understands the key role workers play in national development. This is manifest in the various measures the Federal Government has taken since 2015 to reposition the workforce.”

    “ We can easily flashback to a number of bailout funds he gave to states to pay salaries of workers as well as the unprecedented payment of decades-long arrears of salaries and allowances to the workers in the federal civil service. Let’s not forget that the President also wasted no time in giving his assent to the new National Minimum Wage,” Ngige said in an address at the Long Service/Merit Award Ceremony of the Nigerian Ports Authority held over the weekend in Lagos.

    The Minister further said Nigerian pensioners have never been as fairly treated as obtained currently, emphasizing the significant mileage the administration has covered through the Pension Transitional Administrative Directorate(PTAD)

    He therefore commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority for keying into the core agenda of the Buhari administration in the labour sector by promoting social dialogue and embarking on incentives that ginger industrial productivity.

    “ As the Minister in charge of the interest of workers, I fully appreciate the importance of good corporate reward system in the promotion of competition and excellence, thus, my deep appreciation of today’s event by the Ports Authority. Its potentials in promoting industrial harmony and productivity cannot be over-emphasized. I hence urge other organisations to borrow a leaf.”

    He further congratulated those who were honoured at the event and exhorted workers across the federation to give their best in service, restating the resolve of the Federal Government to safeguard the rights of workers and promote decent work.

  • Tribunal sacks Orji Kalu

    Tribunal sacks Orji Kalu

    By Jennifer Yusuf

    The national assembly petitions tribunal sitting in Abia state has sacked Orji Uzor Kalu as senator representing Abia north.

    Kalu, who is currently the senate chief whip, had been elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But the tribunal nullified his election at its sitting on Monday.

    Mao Ohuabunwa, Kalu’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival in the election, had challenged his victory at the tribunal.

    Details to follow…

  • Air Force Chief restates commitment to security

    Air Force Chief restates commitment to security

    By Samuel Itsede

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has charged Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel on the need to remain resolute and dedicated to their constitutional responsibility of securing Nigeria and Nigerians, working in synergy with sister Services of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

    He gave this charge Monday in an interactive session with NAF personnel of units in Lagos and Ibadan areas held at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja during his operational visit to Lagos.

    Air Marshal Abubakar also reminded the personnel to ensure that their actions are undertaken within the ambits of extant laws as well as in compliance with the need to respect the rights and liberties of citizens.

    The interactive session was aimed at keeping the personnel informed about the policy direction of the NAF while also receiving feedback and suggestions from them on how to move the Service forward for effective and efficient service delivery.

    While in Lagos, the CAS, who was received by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (AOC LC), Air Vice Marshal Abdulganiyu Olabisi, also inspected some ongoing projects in the Base and was briefed on the progress of work on the in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of C-130H aircraft, NAF 913, at the 631 Aircraft

    Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD). The CAS, while interacting with the joint NAF/Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Team undertaking the project, expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the job, which commenced in May 2019. He noted that completion of the job would enhance NAF’s airlift capability thereby adding considerable value to its efforts in the war against terrorism and other forms of criminality in the Country.

    The CAS urged the NAF technicians to take full advantage of the in-country conduct of the maintenance to acquire skills required to conduct future PDM on their own. He also appreciated the PAF Team for reactivating some of the Unit’s broken down equipment and teaching NAF personnel how to use them. The CAS, who was accompanied on the visit by Principal Staff Officers and other senior officers from Headquarters NAF, has returned to Abuja

  • Fourth China-Arab States Expo contributes to high-quality development of BRI

    Fourth China-Arab States Expo contributes to high-quality development of BRI

     

     

    By Huan Xiang, Chen Shangwen, Zhang Jinruo from People’s Daily

     

    The fourth China-Arab States Expo was held in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from September 5 to 8. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the opening ceremony of the event.

     

    A total of 362 deals worth about 185.42 billion yuan (26 billion U.S. dollars) have been signed at the expo.

     

    Adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the event served well as a comprehensive national platform opening to the world. It focused on economic and trade cooperation and highlighted pragmatic results.

     

    Over 2,900 regional organizations, chambers of commerce, associations and enterprises from 107 delegations in 89 countries attended the opening ceremony, as well as 8 exhibitions and investment promotion activities, 4 conferences and forums, and serial activities of theme province (Jiangsu).

     

    A series of negotiations and investigations about trade, high-tech, Internet plus, digital economy, infrastructure and capacity cooperation were held during the expo, facilitating the reaching of a batch of cooperation agreements and practical results, which further demonstrated the role of the event to serve the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and promote economic and trade exchange.

     

    Boydiel Houmeid, Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the expo, noting that Arab countries hope to establish a model of international cooperation featuring zero external interference, mutual understanding, mutual respect and win-win-results.

     

    It is believed that more opportunities will be created for China-Arab states cooperation, said Houmeid.

     

    Bilateral cooperation between China and Arab countries are seeing increasingly broad prospects for cooperation, said Shi Taifeng, secretary of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)), stressing that Ningxia will make good use of the important platform of the China-Arab States Expo to promote high-quality development of the BRI, so as to build a bridge between the enterprises from both China and Arab countries.

     

    China and Arab countries have many ideas, opportunities and measures to be implemented, which will all help promote economic and trade exchanges between the two sides, especially in areas with comparative advantages such as agriculture, energy, technology, and industry, said Mahmoud Hassan Elamin, director of the Representative Office of the Arab League in Beijing.

     

    A series of technology-themed activities were held during the expo, bringing technological cooperation into focus, including Modern Agriculture Exhibition & Agricultural Cooperation Dialogue, Innovative and Advanced Technologies and Equipment Exhibition & Technological Achievements Promotion and Matchmaking Meeting, and China—Arab States Technology Transfer & Innovation Cooperation Conference.

     

    In September 2015, China-Arab States Agricultural Technology Transfer Center was set up in Ningxia as one of the moves to put into practice President Xi’s important proposal.

     

    Over the past four years, eight bilateral technology transfer centers have been established in Arab nations by the national-level comprehensive cross-border technology transfer center under cooperation with relevant institutes.

     

    Meanwhile, the center has also held multiple cross-border training sessions for technical personnel and facilitated a number of transfer and demonstrating projects of advanced technologies between China and Arab nations, such as the prevention and elimination of date palm pests.

     

    The efforts to jointly build technology transfer centers have been productive, said Mahmoud Sakr, Egyptian Vice Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, who on behalf of Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding with China on the establishment of the China-Egypt Technology Transfer Center two years ago.

     

    The China-Egypt Technology Transfer Center offered opportunities for nearly 50 officials and young Egyptian scientists to go to China for training in such areas as innovation, incubator, and scientific park operation, Sakr introduced, adding that the two countries have carried out cooperation in four areas including smart agriculture and remote sensing technology.

     

    It represents an important driving force for the development of scientific and technological innovation in Egypt, said Sakr.

     

    So far, China has signed cooperation documents on joint construction of BRI with 18 Arab countries. As an important China-Arab nations platform for BRI construction, the China-Arab States Expo has played a positive role in promoting economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between China and Belt and Road countries including Arab nations.

     

    Chinese-built railway has significantly facilitated communication between Djibouti and the outside world, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) told People’s Daily.

     

    The modern electric railway, connecting coastal and inland areas and operating on clean energy, largely reduces the transportation cost, said Hadi, extending his appreciation for China’s assistance in Djibouti’s infrastructure construction.

     

     

     

  • Nasarawa stakeholders demand increased funding for agriculture

    Nasarawa stakeholders demand increased funding for agriculture

    By Abel Leonard Nzwanke

    Nasarawa State stakeholders in agriculture have called on the State Government to increase its budgetary allocation to the sector to 10 percent in line with the Maputo declaration.

    They made the appeal in a communiqué issued at the end of a 1-day workshop on “Agriculture Budget Priorities” for Nasarawa State, organised by Oxfam Nigeria,  in Keffi.

    According to Daybreak news the communiqué read by Mr Joshua Jonathan, President of the Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), on behalf of other stakeholders, noted that increased allocation and funding to the sector would enhance economic development and food security.

    They also demanded for the inclusion of small holder farmers in the agricultural budget process in order to capture their needs and address their priorities.

    The stakeholders also stressed the need for the recruitment, training and retraining of extension workers in the state to augment the 100 currently serving them.

    They also encouraged the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme to collaborate with professional organisations, research institutes and non-governmental organisations to build the capacity of extension workers to impact on the production of small holder farmers.

    Similarly, the stakeholders urged the state government to encourage farmers to engage in dry season farming by providing water pumps and and other infrastructure.

    They maintained that irrigation farming was more profitable than rain-fed farming in the quest for sustainable food security.

    Other areas of intervention sought by the stakeholders from the state government included improved technology farm inputs, proper guidance on how to access available credit facilities.
    Also of concern to them was the need for the state government to make concerted effort through appropriate legislation to provide land for women and youth farmers in the state.
    The group also encouraged the state government to upgrade all the seven grazing reserves in the state to boost livestock production.

  • Two die in APC primary in Niger

    Two die in APC primary in Niger

    By Jennifer Yusuf

     

    The  Niger state All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, ahead of the November local government election in the state, has turned bloody following the alleged killing of two persons .

     

    Report by Daybreak correspondent indicates  that violence erupted following the announcement of the result for Shiroro local government area leading to the death of two persons.

    The Niger state police command however said one person was confirmed to have lost his life during the crisis.

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