Category: News

By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto

Sokoto State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency in collaboration with USAID/IHP organized a two day capacity building for Staff of the Agency held at Sokoto Guest Inn.

Declaring the workshop open, the Director General of Sokoto State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency Mal. Yusuf Abu Abdulkarim said that, the Agency and USAID/IHP organized the training to improve the knowledge of the Staff of the Agency about the programs of the Agency in order to equip the Staff with current and best practices in the Social health Insurance world.

The Public Ralations Officer of the Agency quoted the DG as saying,”the Agency under the present Administration is committed to providing affordabale and accessible Healthcare Services to all residents of Sokoto State.

Mal. Yusuf then called the participants to pay attention to what they are going to learn during the training so that they will be more productive to the Agency. The DG also used the medium to thank IHP for Supporting the Agency towards achieving the mandate for which it was established.

During the training, productive papers were presented with regards to the Agency and it’s mandate.

The participants of the training were drawn from all the departments of the Agency including DG , Directors of the Agency and IHP Officials among others.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, has appealed to the Federal Government to step up budgetary allocations to Universities, describing current funding as grossly inadequate.

Ndaeyo who made the call at the combined convocation ceremony of the University last weekend in Uyo said increased students’ population has made it look as if FG best remained grossly inadequate.

The convocation ceremony witnessed the conferment of 14,866 persons with Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Post Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree, Doctor of Philosophy,PHD, and three eminent Nigerians with Honorary Doctorate Degree including former Super Eagles Captain and Goal Keeper, Vincent Enyeama who got doctorate degree of Philosophy in human Kinetics and Physical education with focus in football.

According to the VC,”the FG has done its best in the aspect of funding tertiary education in the country, but this best is still grossly inadequate considering the ever-increasing population of students.

‘I therefore appeal most passionately to the federal government of Nigeria through the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to kindly step up the annual budgetary allocations to Education, particularly to universities.”

He called on the federal government to particularly revisit the issue of non-payment of takeoff to the University of Uyo, more than 30 years the institution was established.

“In the particular case of the University of Uyo, our request for a revisiting of the take off grant issue remains a fervent prayer which we will not cease presenting to the federal government unless and until it is hearkened to, and implemented to give us the much needed financial muscle.” Ndaeyo said.

He appreciated the federal government for the release of four out of the eight months withheld salaries of staff of Federal Universities, calling on the President to release entire withheld salaries adding that such gesture would greatly boast the morale of staff.

He listed challenges of the institution to include erosion and insecurity among others and called on spirited organizations and government to come to the aid of the University.

In his address the Chancellor of the University Alh. (Dr) Abubakar Adamu Maje, congratulated the granduands for their successes and urged them to be innovative, creative and resourceful in the face of limited white collar jobs.

The speech which was read by Ndaeyo, the chancellor who is also the Emir of Hedeja and chairman Jigawa State Council of Chiefs. called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s led administration in its efforts to transform the country.

” I hereby called on all to support the present federal government which is just few months in office but with great promises to transform Nigeria into a destination of developments” Maje said.

A total of 14,866 granduands received various degrees for the combined sessions comprising of 2017/2018, 2018/2019,2019/2020 at undergraduate and post graduate levels.

A break shows that 475 bagged doctorate degrees, 1, 389 received master degrees while 808 were confered with Post graduate diplomas.

At the undergraduate level 11, 795 got bachelors, 318 had diplomas while 81 received certificates amounting to 14, 866.

By Daniel Edu

Despite the delay by President Bola Tinubu to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, federal lawmakers have promised to treat the document with urgency and ensure it beats the December 31 deadline.

The National Assembly also said that the January to December budget implementation cycle would be maintained.

The Senate specifically assured Nigerians that the budget cycle as amended by the ninth Assembly to run from January to December would not fail.

The ninth Assembly had in 2019 amended the 2020 Appropriation Bill, from the May-June cycle to January to December as the budget cycle.

Nigerians had at different times expressed worry over the delay in the presentation of the 2024 budget.

Some experts further feared that President Bola Tinubu might not be able to meet the December deadline for the budget presentation.

Sources in the Presidency had said that Tinubu was expected to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly in the third week of November 2023.

They further assured that the President would present the document to lawmakers on November 20, 2023, and to, among other things, maintain the January-December budget implementation cycle.

Earlier, the Minister of Budget and National Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, had announced that the Federal Government had proposed N26tn for the 2024 budget.

He noted that the President was expected to submit the documents to the National Assembly before December 31, 2023.

Last year, the Federal Government had an executive proposal for a total expenditure of N20.51tn.

Responding to this, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, “The National Assembly will treat the budget as soon as it comes. I know the President will present the budget in November and the job of the lawmakers starts the following day after the presentation.

“The budget will be passed in December. In two weeks, we would have to interact with and have the ministries, departments, and agencies defend their budget.

“It’s not something that will take forever since there are different committees for each MDA and most committees sit concurrently. So, we can’t have any delay; The January to December cycle remains as it is.”

The Senate spokesman explained that the presentation of the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper was not in any way delaying the budget presentation.

“The MTEF will be presented at the plenary next week Tuesday; it is a document in preparation for the budget, but it doesn’t in any way delay the budget.

“What we do during the MTEF is to get MDAs to come and give a clear insight on how they intend to achieve the budget particularly as it relates to revenue generation.”

Similarly, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola, promised that irrespective of the lateness in the submission of the 2024 budget, the Senate would do a thorough job.

Senator Adeola added, “I assure you that we won’t break the tradition, we will have the budget as at when due. We will keep to the tradition of the January to December budget cycle.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has expressed its readiness to treat the 2024-2025 Appropriation Bill being expected from President Tinubu with the urgency it deserves.

The House’s spokesman and Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, said, “We are not in a position to speak for the executive but I can confirm to you that we have not received it (the budget proposal). We are prepared, ready to work on it in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“What is important now is for us to get it (the budget proposal). Once we get it, we will begin work on it. This is all I can say for now.”

By Daniel Edu

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the collation of results for the Imo State Governorship election.

The collation started at 2:40 a.m. on Sunday. The process is headed by the returning officer, Professor Abayomi Fasina, the vice-chancellor of the Federal University in Oye, Ekiti

Below are the results announced by INEC:

Njaba LGA, Imo state

Accredited voters: 12,098

APC: 811

LP: 995

PDP: 2,404

Owerri North LGA

Accredited voters: 18,398

APC: 8,536

LP: 4,386

PDP: 3,449

Obowo LGA, Imo state

Accredited voters: 22, 214

APC: 17,514

LP: 3,404

PDP: 711

Nwangele Local Government

Accredited voters: 33259

APC – 29282
LP – 895
PDP – 2132

Owerri Municipal

Accredited voters: 11110

APC – 5324

LP – 2914

PDP – 2180

ORSU Local Government

Accredited voters: 19939

By Daniel Edu

In a twist of events during the Kogi State elections, the chairman of Igalamela Local Government Area, James Onoja, was purportedly apprehended by security operatives on Saturday. The arrest was made on grounds of alleged possession of ammunition and a substantial amount of cash, neatly packed in ‘Ghana-must-go’ bags.

Sources suggest that the seized money and ammunition were intended for utilization in the ongoing election. A video circulating online depicts the suspects, including the council chairman, seated on the ground near an army checkpoint. In the footage, they express remorse and plea for forgiveness.

As these developments unfold, there has been no official response from the Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, William Ovye, as of the time of this report.

The election in Kogi has been marked by several controversies, including accusations of vote-buying amidst a notably low voter turnout. Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Dino Melaye, has taken a stand by calling for the cancellation of elections conducted in five LGAs within the state. These incidents underscore the challenges and complexities surrounding the electoral process, emphasizing the need for transparency and integrity.

By Daniel Edu

The off-cycle governorship election in Bayelsa State took a tumultuous turn when unidentified assailants, suspected to be thugs, launched an attack on ad-hoc staff from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

The criminal incident unfolded at Ward 1, Unit 23 in Onopa, Yenagoa Local Government Area, where the attackers made off with essential election materials, including the BVAS. The targeted individuals, who were actively engaged in the collation and sorting of votes, were momentarily disrupted by the armed thugs.

According to a representative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who spoke to Daily Post, the assailants seized the opportunity during the ongoing electoral activities to commit the crime. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

In another part of the state, specifically at Ward 11 of Opume and Emakalakala in the Ogbia Local Government area, alleged thugs caused disruptions at polling units 14, 15, and 19. Despite the interference, it was reported that some voting results had already been recorded before the disruption occurred.

Similarly, at Ward 3 in the Olodiama community of the Southern Ijaw Local Government area, armed thugs targeted polling units 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, making away with the original result sheets. The incident highlights the challenges faced by electoral processes in certain regions, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures during such crucial events.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo

In furtherance of the economic/industrial advancement and wealth creation plan of the Akwa Ibom,as contained in the ARISE Agenda, Governor Umo Eno has assured that government would expedite action to ensure speedy and smooth commencement of an onshore logistics base for marine support in the state.

Eno gave the assurance during a meeting with the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Solutions Hub Limited held at the Government House, Uyo weekend.

He noted that government is willing and ready to support investments that would further the development plans of the State, and to create jobs for Akwa Ibom people.

The Governor said the State remained one of the most peaceful and secure states in the country and assured that government would continue to ensure that the State is conducive for citizens, residents, investors, visitors and tourists.

He commended the team for their decision to invest in the State, and promised that government will play its part in ensuring a smooth take off of their business.

The base, proposed to be sited on a 40-square kilometres space in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, within the designated free trade zone in the state, is modeled to be an alternative to existing logistics bases in Nigeria to offer offshore construction support to West and Central African regions.

In her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, NNPCL’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, promised that the team was committed to ensuring that the project would be successfully implemented in the State.

Other members of the delegation included; Mr Bala Wunti, Chief Upstream Investment Officer NNPC NVIMS, Mr. Lanre Richard Igardan, Business Advisor to EVP Upstream, Mr. Ekene Obadiegwu, MD Ibom Solution Hub Ltd, and Mr. Asuquo Inuikum, GM Public Relations.