The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Resumption of schools threatened over virus spread

    Resumption of schools threatened over virus spread

    Our Reporter

     

    RESUMPTION of schools on Monday is threatened by the rising COVID-19 infections last December, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 advised against early resumption of schools and recommended January 18.

    However, some states reopened schools last week. Others reopened on Monday.

    But positive cases have been on the rise since the beginning of the month with an average of 1,000 cases daily.

    The alarming rate of infection and deaths has forced the government to rethink  the resumption date.

    Minister of Education Adamu Adamu said in Abuja on Monday that the resumption date will be reviewed.

    He told reporters: “The issue of January 18 for school resumption is subject to review. Even at our PTF meeting today we discussed it in line with the rising cases in the country. So we are subject to review the date.”

    Chairman of PTF Boss Mustapha added that reopening of schools is among the causes of virus spike.

    He also identified reopening of businesses and religion centres as other causes.

    Some public higher institutions are emulating the private universities in conducting online teaching as a way to continue with their programmes without the danger of COVID-19.

    The University of Ilorin said it was ready for virtual teaching for its students.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the university, Prof. Sylvia Malomo, said: “The university management has committed enormous resources to the development of infrastructure to enhance the effective delivery of the envisaged virtual teaching and learning.

    Read Also: 500 private schools lose licences in Zamfara

    “Students will be taught virtually and will also be intermittently evaluated online to determine the level and quality of knowledge they are receiving.

    “This will also determine the desirability or otherwise of further usage of the virtual method of teaching and learning,” she said.

    According to her, the university is striving to ensure that it covers lost grounds due to the rampaging coronavirus pandemic and the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    She explained that all the academic staff of the university had been trained on the effective use of online teaching method.

    She added that the training had been replicated at faculty and departmental levels to ensure that everyone involved was properly empowered for efficient service delivery.

    The deputy vice-chancellor said she was optimistic that students of the institution would adapt to the new method.

    Malomo noted that secondary school students across the country, successfully used the method at the peak of the pandemic.

    The Senate of Ekiti State University (EKSU) also on Monday announced that the institution would resume online academic activities from Monday.

    A statement by Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, Head, Directorate and Corporate Affairs, said: “Only students who have completed payment of all prescribed fees/charges will have the opportunity to join the online classes.

    “All students of the University are advised to visit their personalized students dashboard on the University portal www.eksuportal@eksu.edu.ng as well as the University website, www.eksu.edu.ng for further directives on the virtual learning system.

    “Please note that it is not compulsory for students to be on campus before they can participate at the online/virtual learning.

    “Senate wishes to assure all the students of quality teaching and learning at the online classes as the University had made adequate arrangements for the exercise,” it said.

  • Rivers United, Bloemfontein Celtic tie gets new date

    Rivers United, Bloemfontein Celtic tie gets new date

    Our Reporter

     

    The rescheduled Confederation Cup tie between Rivers United and South Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtic will be held on the weekend of 22-24 January.

    The game, which was originally slated for January 6, would reportedly be played in a country close to Nigeria which has more lenient COVID-19 protocols for travellers arriving from South Africa.

    The second leg of the last 32 tie was to be played in Port Harcourt but the South African side were not able to travel to Nigeria due to the strict coronavirus regulations by the Nigerian Government.

    Because South Africa is regarded as one of the high risk countries for the coronavirus, Bloemfontein Celtic would have had to quarantine for seven days upon arrival to Nigeria.

    Rivers United lead the tie 2-0 after the first leg with the overall winners progressing to play Champions League losers Enyimba of Nigeria in the play-offs to qualify for the group stage of the Confederation Cup.

     

  • National team jobs: Finidi still seeks to coach F/Eagles, Eaglets

    National team jobs: Finidi still seeks to coach F/Eagles, Eaglets

    Our Reporter

     

    With the dismal performances of Nigeria’s youth teams in recent West African tournaments, former Nigeria international Finidi George said he will continue to put himself forward for national youth teams coaching roles despite being overlooked twice.

    Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team, Flying Eagles crashed out of the WAFU B Zonal qualifiers holding in Porto Novo, Benin Republic last month while the U-17 team, Golden Eagles are on the verge of  leaving the on-going West African Football Union (WAFU) B tournament in Lome, Togo after a loss to the Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and a draw against Ghana’s Black Starlets.

    George, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations as well as three league titles and the 1995 European Champions League with Dutch giants Ajax, has been seeking an opportunity to manage at youth level in the West African nation after twice failing to get the nod for the Under-17 job.

    “I’m very disappointed but I understand the Nigerian system quite well,” George told BBC Sport Africa.

    “It’s a matter of having the patience. So I’m open to continue to improve myself with the hope of getting a chance to coach one of the country’s youth teams.”

    Read Also: AFCON 2019: Don’t underrate Burundi, Finidi warns Eagles

    George’s first rejection came in 2018 when Manu Garba was retained as Nigeria’s under-17 coach and then last year Finidi once again applied for the post, this time another ex-international and veteran local manager Fatai Amoo was chosen by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    “I was disappointed to be ignored, but only consoled that at the end of the day this is Nigeria,” he added. “I understand the challenges, I will just wait for when the time is right and the opportunity presents itself again.”

    Since his retirement from football in 2004, Finidi has earned his UEFA A License which is one level below the highest qualification, the Pro License.

    He is currently allowed to be head coach of youth teams up to age 18, reserve teams (also known as ‘B’ teams) for top-flight clubs, and men’s professional second-tier clubs.

    His previous coaching roles include being the director of international football at former club Real Betis and managed the youth team of his erstwhile Spanish side Real Mallorca in 2013.

     

     

  • Kogi Chief Judge, Olusiyi retires 

    Kogi Chief Judge, Olusiyi retires 

    Our Reporter

     

    THE Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Henry Olusiyi retired from service on Monday, haven attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

    In his valedictory speech at the High Court Complex in Lokoja, Olusiyi said serving as Chief Judge of Kogi State had afforded him the opportunity to make his contributions to the administration of justice within the six months he served in that capacity.

    “For me, the most important attributes of the judiciary and judges are independence, fearlessness and impeccable integrity.

    Read Also: 17 die in Kogi auto crash 

    “In a country which professes to follow the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers, there is no alternative to a totally-independence judiciary.

    “All the three arms of government are expected to, and must, work together for achieving the goals set out in the Constitution. There must be harmony among the three arms.

    “The doctrine of separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution is to ensure checks and balances among the three arms of government, to avoid the abuse of power and the risk of one arm wielding absolute power to the detriment of the other arms,” he said.

     

  • Cross River denies protesting magistrates

    Cross River denies protesting magistrates

     Nsa Gill, Calabar

     

    CROSS River State has said it did not employ the protesting magistrates.

    A statement by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tanko Ashang, said the magistrates recruitment was fraudulent.

    The statement reads: “The protesting magistrates, at a meeting, acknowledged that they were illegally recruited.

    “Represented by their leaders, the magistrates pleaded with Governor Ben Ayade to regularise their employments.

    “Their employment was irregular as it did not have the necessary approvals required for the engagement of any officer into the public service. We challenge the magistrates to present any approvals that were obtained, if any, prior to their engagement or take the government to court if they feel they have a right…”

    Ashang however promised to work with the Judicial Service Commission to correct all irregularities in the system.

    Read Also: Cross River Police commissioner, Jimoh dies

    But Chief Magistrate Solomon Abuo, who attended the meeting, said neither he nor his colleagues admitted to their employment being fraudulent.

    “We didn’t admit that our employment was fraudulent. Our employment is neither illegal nor fraudulent. The Judicial Commission advertised vacancies in the magistracy and we applied. We were screened, interviewed and successful ones were sworn in by the Chief Judge, who is also Chairman of the State Judicial Service Commission.

    “After our swearing in, we were sent for about three months’ training and a one-week induction course in Abuja. We were issued certificate of participation by the National Judicial Institute.

    “When we returned, we were posted to different courts and we resumed sitting. To my knowledge what was expected of us was done. Ours was to follow the process, apply for the job and made ourselves available to be screened.

    “When we were not paid, we wrote series of letters to the government and it has set up different screenings about three times which we participated in. If there was anything, they should have made it public since. Why now?”

  • Sacked Rivers council chairmen oppose proposed election

    Sacked Rivers council chairmen oppose proposed election

    Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

     

    SACKED chairmen of the 22 local government areas of Rivers State, belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have warned against the conduct of another council elections when a related matter is pending in court.

    The chairmen were sacked in a judgment by Justice Lambert Akanbi of the Federal High Court in 2015.

    Chairman of the group Sogbeye Eli, at a news conference yesterday, reiterated the earlier position of the Isaac Ogbogbule-led caretaker committee that the party would not be a part of the February elections.

    The aggrieved politicians regretted the anti-party activities of some party members, especially Ben Chioma and Igo Aguma of the Senator Magnus Abe-led faction, who are insisting on participating in the polls ‘while the party is challenging the illegal nullification of an election that was valid and held in accordance with the constitution and the electoral act’.

    Eli described their colleagues as impostors who are working hard to keep the party down. He called on the National caretaker chairman, Mai Mala Buni, to forward a letter to the RSIEC to officially inform them that the APC is not interested in the election and will not participate.

    They said: “The APC in Rivers State will boycott the proposed council elections because participating in that election means endorsing illegality and also compromising our suit challenging the illegal cancellation of our mandates in the Appeal Court…”

     

     

     

  • Obaseki approves 2020 promotions

    Obaseki approves 2020 promotions

    Our Reporter

     

    EDO State Governor Godwin Obaseki has approved the 2020 promotion for public servants.

    A statement by the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, said the government is working to actualise its dream of making the public service the best.

    Okungbowa added that the Transformation and Enhancement Project initiated by Governor Obaseki for the Public Service is firmly on course, saying: “Government has continued to prioritise the welfare of workers and ensure regular payment of salaries and pensions even in very difficult economic circumstances.”

    Read Also: Obaseki promises quality healthcare, durable roads

    The Head of Service reiterated that the government was pursuing its mandate to enhance efficiency and service delivery in the civil and public service. He added that it was also committed to ensuring that workers are not owed promotion arrears.

    He said: “Governor Obaseki has approved the recruitment of over 1,500 persons to fill critical vacancies in the civil/public service to improve the quality and standard of the service and so government can deliver efficient service to the people…”

  • Palliatives for dead soldiers’ widows

    Palliatives for dead soldiers’ widows

     John Ofikhenua, Abuja

     

    A GROUP, Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the  Economic and Social Council of the United Nations poised at supporting and caring for widows whose husbands died in the course of fighting insurgency, banditry and other criminalities in the country have been assisted with food and other items to alleviate their challenges.

    While donating the items to the widows, Ambassador Bright Eguasa and Ambassador Ikponmwosa Clement Aitusi said they considered the donation crucial because the loss of their loved ones, especially the breadwinner in the family, is usually a huge task to contend with.

    Read Also: Minister gives palliatives to Kogi flood victims

    A release made available to The Nation on Monday, said the ceremony was supervised by the state Coordinator of the UPF, in Edo State Ambassador Osasu Usenbor at the Redeem Christian Church of God, Igo Community, Ekenwuan village in Benin-City.

    The organisation noted that seeing and hearing what widows of fallen soldiers go through can be very appalling as they do not believe nor envisage that such calamities would befall them.

     

  • Retain current executive, Bindow urges Adamawa APC

    Retain current executive, Bindow urges Adamawa APC

     Onimisi Alao, Yola

     

    FORMER Adamawa State Governor, Senator Jibrilla Bindow has arrived in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. It is his first trip to the state after his exit from power in 2019.

    At a reception for him yesterday by the the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bindow called for retention of leaders from the state to ward levels instead of conducting fresh elections.

    Bindow advised the APC members to ensure that they are registered along with their families during the party’s membership registration, even as he disagreed with the national leadership of the party on fresh elections of officials, except it is meant to replace non-performing ones.

    Read Also: 7 reasons why Bindow lost Adamawa’s gov poll

    Bindow, who interacted with the state caretaker officials of the party on the way forward ahead of 2023, insisted that there was no need to replace the current executive, especially at the ward, local and state levels.

    The party, he said, should fill vacant positions and replace people who have not done well in their executive positions, especially those known to have engaged in anti-party activities.

    He apologised for keeping out of the state for so long in spite of calls on him to return home, explaining that his long absence was meant to give the present government breathing space to deliver on its promises.

     

  • Tension in Ekiti over alleged plot to sack Assembly workers

    Tension in Ekiti over alleged plot to sack Assembly workers

     Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

     

    THERE is fear in Ekiti State over alleged plot by the House of Assembly to sack some of its workforce under the guise of staff audit.

    The list of affected workers, according to a source in the Assembly complex, had been compiled.

    The source, who did not disclose the exact number of workers to be sacked, said the House of Assembly Service Commission had decided to embark on the staff audit to legalise the alleged disengagement plan.

    The organised labour has condemned the alleged plan by the House of Assembly to sack some workers under the guise of staff audit.

    The labour, in a letter signed by the secretaries of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Taiwo Akinyemi; Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lawrence Kuloogun; and Joint Negotiating Council, Gbenga Olowoyo, said the unions would resist attempt to sack workers under the facade of staff audit.

    In a letter dated 11th January, 2021 and addressed to the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, it warned that sacking any worker at this point would strain the smooth and robust relationship between the labour and the administration of Governor  Kayode Fayemi.

    Read Also: Power should shift to Ekiti South, says group

    The letter titled: ‘Staff Audit in Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, Need for Caution’, expressed disgust over the alleged audit it described as not being in tandem with the spirit of trust between the labour and the government.

    The letter said: “It is very essential to inform you that the attention of the state leadership of the organised labour has been drawn to the activities of the House of Assembly Service Commission through a letter dated 9th January, 2021, by Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PSSAN), in respect of staff audit report, which is now before the House of Assembly Service Commission.

    “As a matter of necessity, the leadership of the organised labour fumes over any action under the guise of staff audit to disrupt industrial peace in the workplace among public servants in Ekiti State.