The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Pensioners call on PTAD to clear pension arrears

    Pensioners call on PTAD to clear pension arrears

    Federal Pensioners under the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, (PTAD) are appealing to the federal government to clear Pension arrears.

    The pensioners who also applauded President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the reappointment of Dr. Chioma Nnena Ejikeme as its Executive Secretary, stated that her reappointment is a confirmation of hard work, dedication and numerous innovations to addressing the plight of the federal retirees all over the country.

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    In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Federal Pensioners, Comrade Felix Ajoku, it stated that the newly appointed PTAD ES should consolidate on her past successes and ensure all pension arrears are cleared.

    Ajoku said: “She ensured the payment of backlog of pension arrears of pensioners under the civil service pension department arising from the output of the national verification of 2015-2017.

    “She ensured the full liquidation of pension liabilities of the defunct agencies like the New Nigerian Newspapers, NICON Insurance, Nitel/Mtel, Delta Steel Company among others”

  • Housing deficit: developers seek for tax rebate

    Housing deficit: developers seek for tax rebate

    Developers in the built industry are asking for tax rebate to enable the prices of houses in the country and in return reduce the housing deficit that the country faces at the moment

    They also believe that the sector can be helped if the government creates a single agency that would handle everything connected to the sector rather than having many all working in silos.

    They said the same way the government created the Treasury Single Account (TSA), it should create one agency instead of the present method where builders and developers are forced to deal with several agencies.

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    Chief Executive Officer of Pennek Global, Dr. Kennedy Nnadi made the call in Abuja while speaking with newsmen at a flagship open house of the Pennek Court Estate in Abuja.

    He said: “One of the things that have led to housing deficit is the fact that land itself is very expensive, if the government can provide land for most developers, then we can build on them and it would be cheaper.

    “Some other ways to do a tax rebate. It’s already a difficult terrain doing business here at the moment but if we have some tax rebate, the prices of houses will crash. I feel there are a lot of government agencies to deal with when building. Just the same way we have the TSA, we should have just one government agency that would be a one stop shop for builders and developers.”

  • NADDC DG, NGEP Chair, others for NAJA Awards

    NADDC DG, NGEP Chair, others for NAJA Awards

    The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, Chairman of National Gas Expansion Program (NGEP), Muhammed Ibrahim and Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, are among top stakeholders in the Nigerian Auto industry expected at the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Auto Awards.

    The event, scheduled for Thursday at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, will reward deserving auto companies and personalities operating in the country.

    According to the organisers, the NAJA auto awards annually celebrates the best players in the Nigerian auto industry, acknowledging the marketing achievements in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets of the auto industry in the country. 

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    Chairman of the 2023 Award Planning Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, said the awards celebrate franchise new-car dealers for their exceptional business performance as well as indigenous automakers/assemblers for their effort in helping to develop the local auto industry.

    “The award illuminates the significant contributions dealer entrepreneurs make in positioning their brands for acceptability, especially in the area of after-sales services.

    Also commenting on the forthcoming awards, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma, explained that each award is to keep encouraging excellence and celebrate the best and the brightest among the stakeholders, their products, and services in the country.

  • Nigeria needs urgent retreat to diagnose our challenges, says don

    Nigeria needs urgent retreat to diagnose our challenges, says don

    A professor of Criminology and Sociology of Law, Etannibi Alemika, has called for an urgent national retreat to diagnosed the mirage of challenges facing Nigeria as a country.

    Alemika,a professor of criminology, who was the guest speaker of the Annual graduation of Senior Executive Course, 45 Lecture of NIPSS titled “Security Challenges and Security Governance in Nigeria,” advocated a national retreat to dissect the security, economic, and other myriad of diffulties affecting the growth of Nigeria.

    According to him, the many problems the country is presently going through started in 1986, when the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced, during General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, at that time many visible industries folded up, while some were forced to leave the country unceremoniously.

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    Professor Alemika further pointed out that security was all about the safety, peace of mind, and well-being of individuals, adding that many important policies were introduced without considering the security implications.

    He said: “When you removed the subsidy, did you factor in the security implications?

    “For every step we take, we must ask ourselves what the security implications are, how we can mitigate them, and how we can build resilience against them.

    “If we can do this, the challenges confronting the security agencies will be minimal, and they will be able to channel their energy to the appropriate areas of security that require urgent attention.

    “If you don’t do this, you are asking security to solve both the economic and security problems confronting the nation. They are not trained to solve the economic problems.”.

  • Security expert urges Presidency to work with professionals outside party

    Security expert urges Presidency to work with professionals outside party

    Security expert, Jim-Oscar Osemeka has urged the Presidency to work with Nigerian professionals outside its party to ensure the implementation of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The Foreign Service National Investigator (FSNI) for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Office of the Legal Attaché advised the government to look into how it selects people to work with by ensuring they are experts in the said field.

    He said the Presidency needs to work with people that understand how the country is ran from the Nigerian and International perspectives.

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    Osemeka said this in Abuja after being conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Public Administration (Honoris Causa) by the International Leadership Manpower and Management Development (ILMMD), United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

    The ILMMD recognises exceptional individuals with remarkable contributions to Nigeria and the International society and Osemeka a former staff of the Department of State Services (DSS) was awarded Distinguished Fellow Award (Platinum Category).

    He said the government needs to balance nationality with internationality and that is what this award stands for.

  • Alia: I can never work against APC

    Alia: I can never work against APC

    Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia said he has special love for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and will never work against it.

    Alia’s vow is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi yesterday.

    The Benue chapter of the APC recently accused the governor of neglecting the party, opting to work with opposition political parties.

    It also accused the governor of recruiting and funding a five-man committee to convey false information about the state’s chapter of the party, to the Presidency and the APC National Secretariat.

    But Alia, while debunking the claims, insisted that he had a special love for his party, especially the Benue chapter, and was working tirelessly to make the party proud.

    He said: “A particularly absurd claim says there is a formation and funding of a committee headed by retired Gen. Lawrence Onoja and Mr Emmanuel Jime, supposedly tasked to misinform the Presidency and National Secretariat about the situation in Benue.

    “That committee is also expected to spread falsehoods against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    “As a governor, l am determined to fulfill my campaign promises to Benue people.

    “My continued funding of our party activities and expanding its stakeholders meetings in the state are eloquent testimonies of how I hold the party so dear to my heart.”

    The statement commended the Zonal Chairmen of the APC in Benue for their honesty in giving credit to the excellent performance of the governor, so far, and resolving to stand by him.

    “Since the party did not accuse the governor of underperformance or cited public dissatisfaction with his leadership style, it means that we are on the right track.

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    “While we acknowledge the need to unite Benue and make it a better place for us and our children, we equally wish to submit that developing Benue in all sectors is an imperative that sits boldly on the wish list of Alia.

    “Alia understands the importance of unity and teamwork in achieving the above. He has been making frantic efforts towards maintaining a cordial working relationship with the leadership of his party.”

    The governor explained that those recently sworn in as interim local government caretaker chairmen were among those nominated by the party.

    According to him, it is in his prerogative to subject suggested names to scrutiny as no sane governor will accept wholly, everything suggested to him hook, line and sinker.

    The governor described as “false,” the claim that he was planning to dump the party.

    “This unsubstantiated claim further exposes a desperate inclination on the part of the fabricators.

    “They keep cooking media statements from rumours, trivial gossips and their whimsical imaginations, rather than relying on concrete facts.”

  • FCTA sensitizes 310 students on maltreatment, sexual harassment

    FCTA sensitizes 310 students on maltreatment, sexual harassment

    Over 310 students drawn from the 62 wards of the six Area Councils have been sensitized on the need to Speak- out when they are maltreated or harassed sexually.

    Mandate Secretary For Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi gave the advice at the weekend when she led students and others in Abuja to campaign against Gender Based Violence (GBV).

    She explained that the event was an advocacy initiative of the FCTA to commemorate the 16days activism against GBV, to create an awareness that such an act will not be tolerated in the nation’s capital.

    She said Wike is currently championing ‘ FCT Day Of The Adolescent Girl child’ in the territory, towards creating safe space for them.

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    According to her: “This will become a national event by next year. But it is starting here, Abuja, with Wike as the Super champion of He for She for adolescent girls in the FCT”.

    While calling on GBV Victims to use the phone number 080 78 11 11 26, Mrs. Benjamin-Laniyi appealed to parents, community leaders who prevent their wards or subjects from speaking out because of stigma, to rescind from such acts to enable the Government nip the menace of GBV in the bud.

    She said: “In FCT, to orange our world, means to orange the hope of the adolescent girl child.It is to teach our young girls to speak up and not to allow anyone to intimidate them…Please call, speak- out, report, do not hold back, there is help. We at FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat have Mr Project backing to bring renewed hope to the people.

  • Hajj: Saudi Arabia approves 40 slots for Nigerian tour operators Nigeria

    Hajj: Saudi Arabia approves 40 slots for Nigerian tour operators Nigeria

    Sequel to numerous consultations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday announced that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved Nigeria’s demand to increase the 2024 slots of Tour Operators from 10 to 40.

    It would be recalled that in a change of policy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced in September that only 5 per cent of each Hajj-participating country’s Licensed Tour Operators would be permitted to conduct the 2024 Hajj exercise.

    This translated to only 10 from Nigeria. However, Federal Government of Nigeria unrelentingly engaged the Saudi ministry over government’s course of promoting indigenous entrepreneurs as a tool in sustaining the country’s socioeconomic development.

    In honour, the Saudi ministry in charge of Hajj and Umrah rescinded this decision in Nigeria’s favour.

    NAHCON, however, in selecting the 40 tour operators out of the 110 that passed screening last month, considered capacity of operation; years of experience, historical antecedents and clean bill of operation.

    The commission said in a release: “On the strength of the foregoing, the process of selection was tough having evaluated each operator’s ability, experience, and quality of services. As a result, the top 40 after scoring by a seven-man team of experts were adjudged to qualify and are hereby approved. They are as follows: Hajj Mabrur Ventures LTD; Hamsyl Travel and Tours LTD;

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    Gaskiya Tourism and T Agency LTD; Shebra Travels & Tours LTD; Alhujaaj International Umrah & Hajj Services LTD; Taura Travel and Tours LTD; Tafsan Towers & Travels LTD; Amisad Air Support Services LTD; Al-Qibla Travels and Tours LTD; Danbare Travels Agency LTD; Masanawa Travel and Tours LTD; Travels Express LTD.

    13. Strive Wata Travel and Tours LTD; Maqbuul International Limited; Matasa World Wide T Agency LTD; Arafat Air Services Nigeria LTD; Murna Travel Agency LTD; Dala Air Services LTD; Libra Gold Travels & Tours LTD; Omosa Travels LTD; An-Noor Air Services LTD; Pyramid Travel and Tours LTD; Snowbal Travels and Tours LTD; Focal Point Travels LTD; Comerel Travels & Tours LTD; Tomeb Travels & Tours; Asan Umrah Company LTD; Amami Global Links LTD; Zango Travel & Tours LTD; Al-Halal Travel & Tours LTD; Dija Travels & Tours LTD; Al-Rahma for Hajj and Umrah Services Limited; Qiblah International Services LTD; Karamchi Travel & Tours LTD; Allahu Nuru Travels and Tours LTD; Dar Al-Islam Hajj & Umrah LTD; H.A.M Travel Air Services Limited; Imam Travels and Tours Nigeria Limited; Skybird Travels and Tours LTD and Al-Kauthar Travels & Tours LTD.

    “However, in the spirit of business partnership, the commission encourages the remaining 70 that have qualified (from the 110 earlier approved) to consider aligning with the qualified 40 in the discharge of this religious obligation.

    “The commission would like to assure that, as a stakeholder, it is desirous of ensuring that this partnership is entrenched even before the issuance of letters of approval.

    “Therefore, and in the principle of inclusivity, the commission will soon hold a meeting with the overall 110 qualified operators in order to explore avenues of synergy to ensure all parties are carried along amicably.”

  • Activists honour civil servants for standing against corruption

    Activists honour civil servants for standing against corruption

    A civil society, Accountability Lab Nigeria, at the weekend honoured five civil servants from different states for standing against corruption and upholding accountability in public service.

    The five public servants honoured with the integrity icons awards are: Nkwada Ogechukwu from Government Secondary School, Ebonyi State, Catherine Ogunjebi, Head of Legal Services, Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Lois Akut, a medical doctor in Kaduna state, Wodi Seiyefa, A lecturer in Bayelsa state and Ogundare Samuel, a Director at the Bureau of Public Procurement in Ondo State.

    The Country Director, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Odeh Friday, stressed the significance of recognising civil servants who uphold ethical principles, adding that the awardees were chosen based on their outstanding track records and notable achievements in upholding ethical standards within their respective areas of responsibility.

    Friday, who spoke with reporters at the award night themed: ‘Naming and Faming Honest Government Officials’ organised by Accountability Lab in collaboration with Luminate, MacArthur, Ford Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Abuja at the weekend, said the integrity icons stood against corrupt practices while discharging their duties in the public service.

    He said: “So, basically for civil servants working across MDAs across the country, they are the ones whom we’ve identified today to name and fame. Five of them are from over 2,500 nominations that we have received nationwide.

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    “The choice of civil servants, they are the ones that do the work when it comes to service delivery for citizens. If you go to any MDAs, they are the ones whom you will interact with.”

    National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Nnena Akajemeli, said: “The bottom line of this is raising and praising those who excel at their duty post. They are painstakingly going through filtering out saints from sinners.”

    Speaking at the event, Accountability Lab Nigeria Programs and Learning Manager, Ehi Idakwo said the five integrity icons that were honoured stood for the truth and were unwavering in their commitment to the cause of integrity.

    “These are not distant heroes, they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, choosing principle over profit, truth over convenience.” She added.

    She said the organisation would leverage its Integrity Icons and strategic behavioural messaging to debunk false beliefs and attitudes driving corrupt practices in the country.

  • Kogi Assembly resumes plenary today, says Speaker

    Kogi Assembly resumes plenary today, says Speaker

    Members of the Kogi House of Assembly will, today resume plenary at the renovated Assembly Complex in Lokoja, following the completion of renovation work there, the Speaker, Alhaji Umar Yusuf, said yesterday.

    Yusuf spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Yabagi Mohammed, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN).

    He said the complex had been fully renovated and handed over to the assembly.

    NAN reports that the complex was, on October 10, 2022, razed down by a mysterious fire, prompting the state government to award a contract for its renovation.

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    “The renovation of the complex has been completed and we hope to resume plenary in the complex by tomorrow, December 11, by God’s grace,” the Speaker declared.

    Meanwhile, Mr Oladipo Bayode, the convener of the Annual Kogi Built Environment and Building Materials Exhibition (BEBM), has commended the technical competence and workmanship put into the renovation of the assembly complex.

    He described the job as “a world class construction with high value for money”.

    Bayode, who gave the commendation during a visit to the project site, commended the contractor and all service providers who handled the building renovation project.