The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Nigeria must build its foundation on ethics – Uduaghan

    Nigeria must build its foundation on ethics – Uduaghan

    Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has stressed the need for the nation to build its foundation on ethics and values to succeed.

    The governor said this when the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jubril, visited the Government House in Asaba.

    He said the state would work with the stakeholders and support the programme to translate these ethics and values into the lives of the people.

    He charged the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah to liaise with Jubril and other state coordinators of the programme to workout modalities on how the state could key into the programme.

    “The issue you are taking on is quite a tough one. I believe that the issues of ethics and values are the foundation of our nation. If our nation wants to succeed it should look at issues of ethics and values critically,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying during the meeting.

    Uduaghan assured that the state would give all necessary assistance required for the programme to succeed in the State.

    Earlier, Jubril explained the activities of her office to the governor, saying that the programme would be developed in various indigenous languages to disseminate the message and build the necessary virtue in the people.

    She said that ethics and values were vital tools when combined with infrastructural development for building of a strong and united nation.

    She noted that ethics would not work with empty stomach, adding that messages would be translated into local languages to builds integrity and goodwill among the people.

     

  • Fugitive McAfee goes to Guatemala

    Fugitive McAfee goes to Guatemala

    The founder of anti-virus software maker McAfee has crossed into Guatemala to seek political asylum.

    BBC says John McAfee has been on the run in Belize following a police investigation into the murder of his neighbour.

    Belize officials said the software pioneer was a “person of interest” in the death of Florida businessman Gregory Faull on November 11.

    The American has protested his innocence in an online blog and says he has been “harassed” by police.

    Appearing in public for the first time in weeks on Tuesday, Mr. McAfee and his lawyer said he would petition the Guatemalan government to stay there.

    The multi-millionaire fugitive reportedly checked into the five star Villa Real hotel in Guatemala City after sneaking out of Belize.

    The hotel told the BBC that he checked out at 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

    He has hired a high-profile Guatemalan lawyer and told reporters: “Now that I’m here I can speak freely, I can speak openly.”

    “Belize does not have a good track record of providing safety when they ask to question you. I felt much more secure crossing the border,” Mr. McAfee added.

    The 67-year old had earlier revealed that in order to go unnoticed, he changed his appearance by dying his hair and beard, sticking chewed bubble gum to his upper gums to fatten his face and staining his teeth.

    Mr. McAfee has blogged and spoken to journalists regularly during his three weeks on the run, saying he was writing to publicise the treatment he had received at the hands of the police in Belize.

     

  • I didn’t support mass sack in civil service – Okonjo-Iweala

    I didn’t support mass sack in civil service – Okonjo-Iweala

    The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said she is not in support of mass sack in the civil service.

    A statement from the ministry signed by her Senior Adviser on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu, said the minister had told those canvassing for an increase in the capital budget and a “concomitant” reduction in recurrent expenditure to realise that the largest component of recurrent expenditure is personnel costs including salaries and wages.

    “Because the largest component of the nation’s recurrent expenditure is made up of personnel cost like salaries and wages, government is careful about the issue because behind those figures are human beings and families whom you cannot just throw away without considering the implications,” the minister said.

    She explained that because of this fundamental issue, the government’s immediate strategy has focused on fighting waste and the ghost worker syndrome through mechanisms like biometrics.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also explained that implementing the Steve Oronsaye-led committee report on Civil Service Reforms which recommended that agencies performing the same functions be merged will have some effect on the capital-recurrent ratio, but perhaps not as much as many Nigerians would like in the short term.

     

  • Jonathan asks Court to strike out suit on Salami

    Jonathan asks Court to strike out suit on Salami

    President Goodluck Jonathan has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja, to strike out a suit by 11 plaintiffs seeking the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami, to his duty post.

    The plaintiffs who are the Registered Trustees of Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration are seeking an order of mandamus to compel Jonathan, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to reinstate Justice Salami.

    Justice Bello had in the suit ordered the service of the court process on Jonathan through Adoke.

    The court also granted an order for the plaintiffs to sue in representative capacity.

    In a motion notice filed by their counsel, Mr. Matthew Echo of Dr. Fabian Ajogwu‘s Chambers; Jonathan and Adoke listed four grounds for the court to strike out the suit.

    According to the duo, the human rights activists who filed the suit for themselves and the Registered Trustees of the Center for the Promotion of Arbitration do not have the locus standi to institute the action and to seek the reliefs sought as they do not have sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.

    They also contended that the plaintiffs have not shown any authority granted them by the Trustees of the Center for the Promotion of Arbitration to maintain the action on their behalf in a representative capacity.

    Besides, Jonathan and Adoke stated that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are indeterminable as they are merely academic and as such should be expunged.

    They added that there is no cause of action against them as they have always acted in accordance with the constitution in relation with the subject matter in the suit.

    When the matter came up on Tuesday, Justice Bello granted the application to strike out Justice Dalhatu Adamu as Fifth Defendant from the suit having been replaced as the Acting PCA.

    The court thereafter adjourned till January 17, for adoption of written addresses.

     

  • Kidnap victim dies after regaining freedom

    A 65- year old kidnap victim, Paul Odili Chima, has died three days after his release.

    The victim, who was the chairman of Delta State chapter of Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) and President of Aboh Development Union, was abducted in Asaba, Delta State capital.

    Chima was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen and was later released after spending one week in his captors den.

    The Nation gathered that N1.5 million was paid as ransom to secure his release.

    The victim reportedly complained of pains following torture he was subjected to by the hoodlums during his days in captivity.

    A close family source said, “Elder Chima died barely three days after his release by the kidnappers. Before his death, he complained of pains all over his body and was nursing a gunshot injury that was inflicted on him by the kidnappers.”

     

  • Unity colleges: FG to adopt criteria for principals’ appointment

    Unity colleges: FG to adopt criteria for principals’ appointment

    The Federal Government on Tuesday said it would establish and adopt “measurable criteria” for the appointment of principals into Federal Unity Colleges.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The statement said the minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, made this known while declaring open the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges in Enugu.

    According to the statement, the Federal Ministry of Education is not happy with the quality of leadership provided by principals of Federal Unity Colleges for their respective schools.

    It stated that due to the low performance of the principals, appointments to head schools would henceforth be based on measurable criteria.

    “Let me make it clear to all of us that the Minister of Education and my humble self are not satisfied with the quality of leadership that you offer in the unity colleges.

    “Therefore we are determined to raise the performance and achievement levels of our students.

    “From now on, appointment of principals to the unity colleges will be based on measurable criteria to be established and adopted soon by the Federal Ministry of Education,”the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying in the statement.

    Wike stated that the continued stay or retention of principals in office would be determined by the outcome of a summative performance evaluation to be administered annually on all principals of Federal Unity Colleges.

     

  • Police dismisses rumoured explosion in Abuja

    Police dismisses rumoured explosion in Abuja

    The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday dismissed the rumour of a bomb explosion at a shopping complex in Lokogoma, a settlement in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, who dismissed the rumour during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, described the unfortunate incident as a false alarm.

    Mba said that no case of bomb explosion was reported in or around the FCT, noting that investigations by security operatives had indicated that the incident was a mere fire outbreak.

    “It is unfortunate that some people have gone to town to report that it was an explosion; it was a mere fire outbreak at a shopping complex in Lokogoma.

    “Reports reaching us showed that the fire, triggered by an electrical fault, started from a laundry shop at the shopping complex.

    “It was also said that part of the building was razed by the fire and the explosion.

    “The big sound that caused the false alarm came from the compressor of the air conditioning system at the shop,”he said.

    Mba also said that no lives were lost in the incident except for the property contained in parts of the building razed by the fire.

    He urged residents of the territory to disregard the rumour and move on with their legitimate businesses, assuring them of police’s readiness to protect their lives and property.

    The police spokesman, however, advised property owners to always provide safety equipment in their buildings and to ensure strict adherence to safety precautions and to avoid similar occurrence in future.

    The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that a loud explosion was heard at the Lokogoma area of the FCT early Tuesday morning.

     

  • ‘PIB will engage host communities in oil, gas security’

    ‘PIB will engage host communities in oil, gas security’

    The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezeani Allison-Madueke, said in Abuja on Tuesday that the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will encourage host communities to protect oil and gas infrastructure in their area.

    Speaking at the 18th Nigeria Economic Summit during a panel discussion on the “PIB and the Future of Nigeria’s Oil Industry, the minister said, “We have created a mechanism to formally recognise host communities as important stakeholders by assigning oil and gas infrastructure security to the communities.’’

    This, she said, would minimise environmental degradation due to vandalism and crude oil theft

    “As a Freedom to operate tool, it incorporates penalties to host communities in the event of vandalism in their localities.

    “The legislation also includes modalities for using regulation to increase the flexibility in the management of host communities’ issues,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Alison-Madueke as saying at the summit.

    The minister also said the PIB when passed into law would increase participation of new players in oil and gas industry through the proposed new acreage management system.

     

  • Nigeria loses Commonwealth scholarship slots

    Nigeria loses Commonwealth scholarship slots

    Three candidates, who won the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) Awards last year, could not make it to study abroad, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, has said.

    Nwaobiala, who spoke on Monday night in Abuja at the opening of the “2012/2013 CSFP Awards’’ blamed the inability of the three candidates to study abroad on “avoidable reasons.’’

    Nwaobiala was represented by the Director, Federal Scholarship Board, Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi.

    According to him, one of the candidates declined the award at the point of travel, while one award was withdrawn by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) for not meeting the English Language Proficiency as required by the university.

    The third award, he said, was withdrawn by the CSC because the scholar was rejected by two institutions and the third placement did not materialise.

    He said 16 candidates out of the 1,500 that competed for 32 slots given to Nigeria were finally selected by the CSFP to study abroad and three of that number lost the slots on “avoidable grounds.’’

    “It is sad that candidates who went through these tedious screening could afford to lose the awards on these avoidable grounds.

    “It is imperative, therefore, to advise candidates to be disciplined and focused during the exercise to qualify for nomination for the CSFP awards tenable in Commonwealth countries,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Nwaobiala as saying at the forum.

    In her remarks, The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, urged the Federal Scholarship Board to “embark on a tracking system’’ for the beneficiaries of all of its awards since inception.

    Rufa’i also urged the board to publish an impact assessment report on the beneficiaries.

    The minister, who was represented by Nwaobiala, said the report would enable the ministry to request for more funding from the government to better the lot of many “brilliant and indigent youth.”’

    She commended the objectives of the Commonwealth in promoting equal opportunity, gender equity and cultural exchange.

    Rufa’i promised the speedy release of results for the 2013 nominations.

  • ‘Only N19b was released to Aviation Ministry this year’

    ‘Only N19b was released to Aviation Ministry this year’

     

    The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has said that out only N19 billion was released to the ministry out of the N34 billion appropriated for the ministry this year.

    The minister noted, however, that about 72 per cent of the amount released had been utilised by the ministry.

    Oduah made the announcement in Abuja on Monday after reading the ministry’s 2012 budget performance before the Senate Committee on Aviation.

    She also gave a breakdown of the performance of the ministry and its the parastatal agencies, saying the average performance of the agencies was 63 per cent.

    “The main ministry has accomplished 66 per cent, NIMET, 47 per cent, NCAT 46 per cent, NAMA 46 per cent, FAAN 53 per cent and AIB 47 per cent, bringing the average performance to 63 per cent,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying in her presentation.

    According to her, the airport modernisation embarked upon by the ministry is at 85 per cent completion.

    In his speech at the occasion, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, said the budget was a veritable tool for economic management of political governance.

    He said it provided the framework for providing goods and services to citizens and it brought hope for the economy’s transformation.