Category: News

From Abel Leonard, Lafia

The Nasarawa State governor, Engr. Abdullahi Alhaji Sule has threaten to enforce the no-work-no-pay policy on civil servants as a result of the striking action embarked upon by the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday 15 June, 2021.

This was part of the resolutions taken at an emergency expanded security meeting, which held at the Government House, on Tuesday.

According to the statement issued at the end of the meeting, signed by Barrister Mohammed Ubandoma Aliyu, Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, while government recognises the right of workers in the state to embark on strike, it however enjoins the organized labour to carry out its activities within the confines of the law.

The emergency meeting was however, convened at the instance of Governor Abdullahi Sule, aimed at resolving plight of the striking workers adding that the state government expressed dismay over the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the state labour unions as well as the picketing of offices, thereby depriving workers from gaining access to their offices.

The statement added that the state government has directed permanent secretaries at the various ministries, departments and agencies, to open attendance registers, with a view to actualising the no-work-no-pay policy.

Gov. Sule further directed security agencies to deploy its personnel to take position in all MDAs, with a view to restoring law and order, adding that the government will also seek legal interpretation of the strike action embarked upon by the organized labour at the law court.

Gov. Sule also expressed his desire to continue dialogue with the organized labour in the state while calling on the people of the state, to remain law abiding, even as the government, commended members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), for their refusal to join the ongoing strike action.

Recall that the Daybreak news reports that the Nasarawa state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had embarked on an indefinite Strike which commenced on Tuesday, 15 June, 2021.

…says Nigeria ready to address challenges facing older persons

By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

As Nigeria for the 2021 commemorates the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr. Emem Omokaro has said that with the Presidential accentment to the Senior Citizens Bill the Federal Government is now ready to address the challenges facing the older persons population.

Omokaro who is the first DG of the newly established National Senior Citizens Centre said, ” This year’s commemoration is very special since after many years of indifference Nigeria’s senior citizens now have a focal centre saddled with the responsibility of enhancing the responsibility of their welfare.

She noted that after the inauguration of the NSCC by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq , Nigeria can now optimally address the challenges facing it’s senior citizens.
She said that the WEAAD provides the opportunity for the global community to appreciate older persons adding that they continue to make contributions they continue to make to enhance the wellbeing of families, communities and the nation and also to call attention to their human rights.”

“It is a day set aside to create awareness and deepen understanding of the cultural , social, economic and demographic processes affecting older persons , to recognize and assess the stereotypes, prejudices , discrimination, neglect , violence and stigmatization they face within households, communities , private and public institutions where they expect to find trust.”
She emphasized that the 2021 WEAAD commemorated in Nigeria is a historic and strategic national developmental initiatives by President Muhammadu Buhari integrates older persons into development.

The theme of the 2021 WEAAD, ” Access to Justice” affirms that the entire world voices it’s opposition to any form of abuse of older persons by assessing national plans of action and how to address systematic drivers of older person’s vulnerability their susceptibility to abuse and their ability to obtain remedies through formal or informal institutions of Justice for grievances in compliance within human rights standards, she said.

She commended President Buhari for laying the necessary legislative and policy foundations for programmes and services that will effectively facilitate older persons right to health care , income security , long-life learning opportunities, engagement of capacities, enjoyment of freedom and happiness on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity, which are the core of humanity.

Meanwhile, the UN International Plan of Action has identified the alarming and increasing incidence of older persons abuse at all levels and in all forms , as public health crises with 4 out of 6 older persons are abused.

Daybreak reports that the WEAAD is commemorated every year on June 15th. It was launched in year 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization (WHO) and ratified by the United Nations’ General Assembly under its Resolution 66/127 of 2011.

By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

Benue State Government has assured it would sustain its support to security operatives to guarantee safety of lives and property of the citizens despite blackmail and campaign of Calumny against Governor Samuel Ortom by the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Benue State, Mrs Ngunan Adingi stated this while reacting to what She referred to as a misleading information by the Cattle Breeders Association accusing the Governor of allegedly sponsoring attacks on the cattle breeders.

Adingi pointed out that the report was another grand conspiracy and propaganda by the group to sustain their war against the governor and people of the state. 

According to her, the unfounded allegation was a deliberate attempt  by pastoralists to cause disunity between Governor Ortom and his  Nassarawa State counterpart, averring that the Herders claimed that one thousand of their cows were killed by the Military without any evidence to show.

The Commissioner urged all well meaning Nigerians to disregard the strategy embarked upon by the leadership of the association to mislead others and continue to pursue their evil agenda of occupying the Benue valley.

By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

Former Senator representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone Mrs Nenadi Esther Usman said she’s still in shock, 40 days after the demise of  Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan a.k.a Maman Taraba.

Recalled that Mama Taraba’s 40th day prayers held (today) Tuesday in accordance with the Islamic rites.

Senator Nenadi Usman, in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna stated that, “Tuesday marks exactly 40 days since the body of my best friend, sister, colleague and close confidant, Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan a.k.a Maman

“Honestly, I am still in shock at the news of your death. Looking back at your life,  I cannot but pay tribute to your doggedness, forthrightness, brilliance, courage, fearlessness, selflessness and generosity.

‘You were a role model for the girl child politically. 
“You will forever be remembered in the annals of the history of this nation as one woman who spoke truth to power, a Nigerian who sacrificed her comfort on the altar of truth.”Now that you have gone to the great beyond and be with our creator, I pray that

The Almighty rewards you abundantly for your good deeds.”I know that in the hearts of well-meaning Nigerians, your place of honour is secrad and secured and on this 40th day “fida’u” prayer, I pray that Allah (SWT) forgives all your shortcomings and grants you a special place in “Aljannah Firdausi”. Fare thee well, my dear friend and sister”, she prayed.

The FCT Administration has concluded arrangements to revoke undeveloped plots of land in serviced areas allocated to individuals and corporate organizations.

Equally, the Administration will soon commence revocation of plots allocated to various developers under the Mass Housing Scheme but remains undeveloped since allocations were made.

The Director of Information & Customer Service, (AGIS/Lands), Muhammad Hazat Sule, made this disclosure on Tuesday, while speaking to Newsmen in his office at No. 4, Peace Drive, Central Business District, Abuja.

The Director explained that this action has become necessary because government has expended huge sum of money in the provision of basic infrastructures in these areas and will not allow them to remain unutilized.

Mr. Sule revealed that already, the Administration has taken inventory of the developed and undeveloped plots including Mass Housing across the Federal Capital Territory and would soon act by revoking the undeveloped titles and reallocate same to serious developers.

He said some of these plots were allocated in the Federal Capital Territory for a very long time for different purposes including private residential, commercial, as well as Mass Housing with terms and conditions that some developers have failed to comply with.

According to him, “some of these allocation papers have been kept in briefcases without considering the terms and/or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Government.”

He regretted that by not developing these huge plots of land allocated to them in line with the terms of allocation and MoU entered into with government, the defaulting developers have denied access to affordable housing to thousands of residents who are desirous of owing houses in the FCT.

Mr. Sule further explained that, for instance, the FCT Administration came up with the concept of mass housing in order to bridge the housing gap and meet the housing needs of the residents.

His words: “There is the need to remind all those with such allocations to do the needful, because the FCT Administration had in the past allocated huge plots of land in various districts for mass housing projects across the Territory. But sadly, some of these allottees are yet to develop them.”

“Accordingly, the FCTA has carried out several sensitizations both in the print and electrotonic media for them to be responsive by developing same in line with the terms of allocations, yet, some of the developers remained adamant,” Mr. Sule added.

He, however, called on all allottees of mass housing plots in the Federal Capital Territory that have developed them to submit the names of their subscribers or beneficiaries to the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and Land Administration Department for the necessary documentation and subsequent issuance of Rights of Occupancy and the Certificates of Occupancy that would be bankable.

The Director reiterated that “It was in furtherance of this, that the FCT Administration recently launched the Accelerated Area Council and Sectional Titles Re-issuance Scheme (AACSTRIS) to drive home this important policy”.

Mr. Sule used the opportunity to commend few of the Mass Housing Developers that have complied with the terms of agreement entered into with the authorities.