The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Plateau Assembly member employs 25 youths

    Hon Dalyop Fom, Member, representing Jos South Constituency in the Plateau House of Assembly, has employed 25 youths and will be paying them with his entire monthly salary.

    Fom made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday.

    The lawmaker said that the painstaking decision was to reduce unemployment in his constituency.

    He said that the 25 youths who were from the five districts of his constituency would be working in his constituency office as liaisons with their districts.

    “I took this painstaking decision in a bid to contribute my own quota in curbing the worrisome issue of unemployment.

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    “This implies that rather than using my earnings for my personal needs and benefit, I chose to use it to fill those of my constituents,’’ he said.

    Fom said that he would continue to initiate ideas and programmes that would impact on the lives of his constituents.

    According to him, doing so is my little way of giving back to the people who ensured my unhampered triumphant victory at the polls.

    (NAN)

  • Man electrocuted in Anambra

    A middle-aged man identified as Nduka Emeziagbala, died on Friday, at Enugwu-Aged community in Anambra in circumstances suspected to be electrocution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered on Saturday that the incident occurred while the victim was cutting branches of a breadfruit tree under electricity high tension cable in the community.

    The deceased was believed to have had contact with something bearing electricity current while on the three trying to shed the branches, and got electrocuted.

    He was said to have fallen off the tree and died in a condition depicting electrocution.

    An eyewitness said that the deceased from Iruobieri village, was given the job following the warning by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) on the dangers of the tree.

    The company had said that it was necessary to cut down the tree to ensure free flow of electricity current on the wires.

    “In the process, the young man was hired to cut down branches of the tree because of the repeated warning from officers of the EEDC,” the source said.

    Another source, who said that the incident had thrown the entire community in Njikoka Local Government Area into morning, described the deceased as “a quiet young man, who cared for his mother more than his siblings’’.

    Read Also: Man murdered over girlfriend in Anambra

    In his reaction, President-General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU), Mr Chidi Okoye, described the incident as regrettable, but blamed it on carelessness of the deceased.

    Okoye said the leadership of the union had earlier engaged some villagers on the need to allow EEDC to cut down the tree due to the inherent dangers it posed.

    “It is unfortunate that the young man died in that manner. We expected that there would have been a proper communication with the EEDC before cutting down the tree.

    “He just lost his life out of sheer carelessness. The sad incident is a lesson to everybody in the community,” he said.

    Okoye, however, cautioned youths in the area not to take laws into their hands, advising that there was no need for civil unrest in the community as a result of the incident.

    He disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited in a mortuary in the community.

    Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Haruna Mohammed, told NAN that the case was not reported to the police.

    Mohammed, however, said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area notified him that the deceased did not die of electrocution.

    “Investigation revealed that the deceased fell from Ukwa (breadfruit) tree and became unconscious.

    “He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

    “But, the matter was not officially reported to the police,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • US to send troops to Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions

    The United States is deploying military personnel and equipment to Saudi Arabia for the first time since 2003, the Pentagon announced.

    “This movement of forces provides an additional deterrent, and ensures our ability to defend our forces and interests in the region from emergent, credible threats,” the U.S. Central Command said.

    Since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement, tensions have risen between the U.S. and Iran. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. destroyed an Iranian drone, which Tehran denies.

    Saudi Arabia’s King Salman “approved hosting U.S. Armed Forces in the Kingdom to increase joint cooperation in defense of regional security and stability.

    Read Also: Ex-American footballer lost leg after being shot by dog

    and to preserve its peace,” the country’s state press agency reported. Iran is Saudi Arabia’s main rival in the region.

    The deployment will consists of 500 soldiers and include air defense missiles and and F-22 stealth fighters, according to the BBC. The U.S. army left Saudi Arabia in 2003 after a twelve-year presence that started when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991.

    (newsnow.co.uk)

  • Ex-American footballer lost leg after being shot by dog

    A hunter and former American footballer who lost his leg after being shot by a dog has said he is “just happy to be alive”.

    Matt Branch, who played as a lineman for Louisiana State University, lost his limb while preparing for a hunting trip with friends and family on the morning of 28 December near the city of Monroe.

    As the group loaded gear for duck hunting into their vehicle, a black Labrador named Tito jumped onto Mr Branch’s shotgun, somehow pressing the safety catch and pulling the trigger with his paw.

    The gun blasted a hole through the vehicle and sent shot flying into Mr Branch’s leg. He was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he died twice before being stabilised, and woke up 12 days later.

    The father of one told local paper the Clarion Ledger: “When I woke up I was extremely weak, I couldn’t feed myself.

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    I couldn’t sit up. I could barely grab a bottle of water off the table. I’d been asleep 12 days. It’s crazy how your body can get so weak when it’s not used.”

    After regaining consciousness after almost two weeks in his hospital bed, he was not told he had lost his leg until a day later – however he said he was not angry to find the appendage had been amputated.

    He added: “It didn’t really surprise me. For several days they didn’t know if I would live or die, so I was happy to be alive rather than mad I lost my leg.
    “I kind of accepted it and tried to figure out what I needed to do to get out of the hospital.”

    After 12 surgeries and more than 55 days in medical care, doctors questioned whether he would be able to walk again – however he has since posted videos to his Facebook account showing him strength training with his prosthetic limb by performing tractor tyre lifts.

    Mr Branch said: “There were definitely times, especially in the hospital and sometimes after, you feel isolated, you ask yourself why you lost a limb.
    “But at the end of the day, you’ve still lost a limb. I decided early on to try to be positive. I still have bad days. I’m going to have bad days. I’m just going to try to best I can so I can work through it.”

    (www.newsnow.co.uk)

  • New Minimum wage: Katsina to engage state NLC

    The katsina State Government plans to engage the state branch of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on the National Minimum Wage issue to find an amicable solution between labor and the administration

    The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, stated this when he received the new leadership of NLC in the state.

    The Nation recalled that Katsina was among the states that successfully implemented the last minimum wage increment from N7500 to N18, 000 despite disagreements at the initial stage of the negotiations.

    The workers are therefore optimistic that the state government will not go into long drawn negotiations on the national minimum wage issue, this time around, thanks to the existing cordial industrial relations with the state government.

    Read Also: TUC rejects Fed Govt’s circular on minimum wage implementation

    Katsina state has a population of over seven million, out of which about thirty thousand earn are on the government pay roll.

    The state NLC Chairman, Malam Hussaini Hamisu had earlier told the Governor that they came to congratulate him on his re-election and successful swearing in for a second term in office. He pledged the support and cooperation of the union members with his administration

    The Union leader further pleaded with the Governor to look into the present challenges facing the State Water Board, especially the situation where they were unable to pay staff salaries for the past 6 months as well as other intractable challenges facing the agency

    Responding, the Governor promised to carry out a complete overhaul and re-organization of the agency, adding that the state Government is not impressed with its performance and that of the management as presently constituted especially after having pumped so much money to procure its needed spare parts

  • A’Ibom worried over erosion, flood threats

    Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Ekong Sampson, has lamented despite government’s remedial measures to tackle erosion and flood, large portions of the state remain threatened.

    Sampson spoke with newsmen at one of the sites shortly after he led officials of the Ministry and journalists on inspection tour of erosion and flooded sites in Uyo, the state capital.

    The Commissioner visited erosion sites at the Uyo prison, Udo Inwang community and the flood site at Ubara community in Use Offot in Uyo Local Government Area of the state.

    He said: “We have gone round on inspection even in the rain. I am here with officials from the ministry and officials of Nigerpet who have been working on a number of locations in the state.

    “The state government is passionate about this matter, so we are here to see things for ourselves for prompt intervention. The Governor Udom Emmanuel has directed that remedial measures be put on place to salvage the situation.

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    “You have gone round with us and have seen the magnitude of the problems we have. Akwa Ibom is under threats of erosion and flood and the state government alone cannot handle this alone.”

    He called on the federal government to come to the aid of the state Government on order to address and bring the situation under control

    “We want the federal government to see Akwa Ibom as a percular case, our environment is under pressure’

    He said his ministry will continue to mount advocacy on the people by way of taking to them to take issues of environment seriously and ensure they protect it where ever they live.

    “Advocacy is very important here. We are talking to our people on the need to protect the environment not only government.

    “The responsibility to protect the environment is on everybody. Government on it’s part has taken appropriate measures to address a number of concerns as we are about doing now,” Ekong said.

  • Monthly stipend for 41,000 households in A’Ibom

    The Akwa Ibom state government says it will be giving monthly financial support to 41,000 households in the state.

    The gesture, which is part of government’s social investment programme codenamed ‘Household Uplifting Programme’, will be implemented by Cash Transfer.

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet said the stipend will be N10,000 for each person

    The commissioner said the stipend is targeted at poor rural dwellers in the state.

    Edet disclosed this on Friday during Household Uplifting programme training, organised to train the members on cash transfer in Uyo, the state capital.

    She said: “ The money will be given to real beneficiaries all over the state, particularly the rural dwellers.”

    The commissioner commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for supporting the programme by providing the needed logistics.

    Read Also: Free health care programme for Akwa Ibom communities

    Edet, who said that the programme was what the state government has been doing to alleviate poverty, said the state will do everything possible for the success of the programme.

    She urged the field workers to be cordial with the poor people so that they can reveal their true problems.

    Director of Scial Investment Akwa Ibom state , Mr Godwin Akpan explained that the number was gotten from the field work carried out in villages of the state.

    Akpan stated that the payment will commence by next month(August) when all processes as well as documentations are concluded

    He also said that the beneficiaries will be provided with identification card to afford them the opportunity to access the funds freely.

  • NYSC donates relief materials to katsina IDPs

    The National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) have donated relief materials including food items, medicine and clothing to internally displaced persons, who were victims of banditry attacks in Katsina.

    The State Coordinator NYSC Katsina State, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya who presented the items on behalf of the Director General of the NYSC Brigadier- General Shaibu Ibrahim, said the gesture is part of the Scheme’s Corporate Social Responsibilities and the Community Development Service (CDS) to the less privileged members of the public.

    Other Items donated include Bags of Rice Cartons of Detergent, Bathing Soaps, cartons of fruit Juice, bottles of drinking water and so on

    Addressing the IDPs, the State Coordinator lamented the circumstances that led to their becoming IDPs and prayed that God will help restore peace and security in Katsina state

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    He also urged them to have faith and believe that one day they will be out and live a normal life like their counterparts in the towns and villages

    A female member of the IDP, Malama Wasila Zeladeni, while thanking the NYSC on behalf of IDPs, prayed God to bless the Corps Members and the NYSC for their gesture

    Malama Wasila Zeladeni who was almost in tears, also prayed that God will help restore the security situation in the state.

    Also while receiving the items; the officer in ch

  • 66,725 voters to participate in Plateau by-election – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 66,725 voters will be participating in the by-election into the Pengana Constituency of Bassa Local Government Area in Plateau House of Assembly.

    Mr Osaretin Imahiyereobo, Head, Voter Education and Publicity of the Commission in the state, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday.

    The by-election scheduled for Aug. 3, was necessitated by the death of Mr Ezekiel Afon of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who died just after he was declared winner of the election in March.

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    According to him, 67,033 eligible voters in the constituency registered but only 66,725 who had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be allowed to vote on the day of election.

    “Elections will hold in 60 polling units and 127 voting points in seven Registration Areas (RAs).

    “Total registered voters in the constituency is 67,033 but only 66,725 have collected their PVCs.

    “Only those who registered and obtained their PVCs in these 60 polling units located in the seven RAs will be allowed to participate in the election,” Imahiyereobo said.

    The official said Smart Card Readers would be fully deployed and handled by well-trained INEC permanent staff during the polls.

    He also said training of Supervisory Presiding Officers commenced last Thursday and ended on Friday

    Imahiyereobo explained that the training for Presiding Officers, which consists mainly of NYSC corps members and Assistant Presiding Officers would hold between July 22 and July 25.

    (NAN)

  • Five things you shouldn’t wear to a job interview

    A good part of getting a job is making a good impression and a good part of making a good impression is how you dress for the interview.

    While considering what to wear to a job interview matters most, it is also important to consider what not to wear to make the best impression.

     * Keep bright or flashy colors to a minimum:

    The best color for an interview outfit is black or neutral. Wearing bright colors to an interview is acceptable, if it correctly represents your personality. It is also important to consider the type of job you are interviewing for when checking out your outfits. There are lots of colors that are less dramatic that work well for business organisations.

    *  Be careful of casual clothing:

    It is not appropriate to wear a shorts T-shirts, tops, wristbands, head phones, hats and jeans to a job interview even when the weather is not conducive. Different organizations have their own dress codes and it is important to shop wisely and plan ahead.

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     * Bold or flashy Jewelries:

    Men and women should keep accessories to a minimum. Ladies should avoid wearing flashy necklaces or large sunglasses. It is important for men to be mindful of cufflinks, tie clips and belts which make you look professional.

    *  Do not overdo your makeup:

    While it’s important to look to your best, loading on makeup is not the best way to go about it.  Keep your look natural, avoiding dark shadow, bright lipstick or heavy foundation.

    *  Clothes that do not fit:

    It is very necessary to wear clothes that fit for an interview. If your outfit is too small, it can distract the discussion at hand and emphasize on issues that shouldn’t be professional. The same goes for clothes that are too big, everything matters including your overall appearance.