The Nation Newspaper

Category: Uncategorized

  • National Assembly’ll grant councils financial autonomy, says Tambuwal

    House of Representatives’ Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday said the National Assembly is determined to guarantee the financial autonomy of local governments.

    He said the running of local government councils by caretaker committees in Imo State is unacceptable.

    Tambuwal spoke in his office while receiving the leadership of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    He said Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha must respect the law and democracy that put him in office by doing the right thing.

    The speaker said: “I am appealing to the Imo State Governor to please respect the rule of law. If it is about might and power, I am sure he is not the strongest personality in the state.

    “But God, in His infinite wisdom, has made him governor through an electoral process put in place by law. He should, therefore, respect that law and do the right thing.

    “What is happening in Imo is unacceptable and I join other Nigerians to plead with him to respect the laws of the land and do the right thing.”

    He accused state governments of subverting the constitution with the way local councils are run.

    Tambuwal said: “The intent of the framers of the constitution on the local government structure has been defeated, as the structures are not what they ought to be.

    “Federal lawmakers are determined to correct the anomaly through constitutional amendment. Section 7 has clearly guaranteed the existence of democratically elected local government councils.

    “Many states have been paying lip service to that particular section of the constitution, but the National Assembly is trying to tie that particular provision to the release of funds to undemocratically installed caretaker committees.

    “This is because it is not within the contemplation of the law, even if the House of Assembly passes a legislation to support it. For as long as it is not consistent with the provisions of the constitution, we know clearly that such law is null and void.

    “The two chambers of the National Assembly are seriously considering passing this amendment to the constitution to guarantee the financial autonomy of local government councils.

    “The bill intended to guarantee the financial autonomy of the local councils has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.”

    Tambuwal urged local government administrators to educate governors, state lawmakers and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on the need to constitutionally liberate the local councils.

    He warned Houses of Assembly against passing laws that create caretaker committees and urged ALGON and Nigerians to contest such laws in court.

    ALGON Chairman Uzor Nwabueze decried the undue interference in council affairs by governors.

    He advocated the abrogation of provisions relating to Joint State and Local Government Accounts.

  • LASAA to introduce Skype Video

    After four-week trials involving its Human Resources, Client Services and Business Development Departments, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) will introduce Skype video-conferencing to promote customer relations and service delivery.

    Skype was founded in 2003 by Janus Friis from Denmark and Niklas Zennström from Sweden, but was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2011. Registered users of Skype are identified by a unique Skype name, and may be listed in the Skype directory. Skype allows registered users to communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat. Voice chat allows telephone calls between pairs of users and conference callers, and uses a proprietary audio codec. Skype’s text chat client allows group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of previous messages. Video conferencing between two users was introduced in January 2006 for the Windows and Mac OS X platform clients.

    LASAA said the application would, among others, ensure that response time to enquiries from stakeholders is quicker thereby making, service delivery more effective and efficient. The deployment of the Skype application will begin next Tuesday. It is the first time, in the words of the agency, that such an interactive platform is deployed by any regulator in the industry in Africa.

    Skype allows users to communicate with individuals by voice, video, and instant messaging on the Internet. The service has almost 700 million registered users in the world.

    In a statement, the agency said over one million people use the service mainly for personal communication in country. It said it would adopt Skype as part of efforts to improve its publics.

    LASAA’s Managing Director Mr George Noah said the video application demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the provision of value-added services.

    “We are most delighted at the launch of this service because it aligns with our commitment to continuously offer our stakeholders opportunity to connect with us freely. We are convinced that with Skype, engagement at both ends will be quicker and faster,” he said.

  • Natural cure for hypertension

    One of the very effective lifestyle change for someone who is over weight and also suffering from hypertension, is to shed a few pounds. Losing weight even in small measure can have dramatic effects in lowering your blood pressure. A lot of experts prefer using pharmaceutical drugs while prescribing a weight loss programme in order to treat high blood pressure. The best and safest way to maintain your blood pressure is to eat right. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 and should not exceed the count of 140/90 in order to stay fit and free from strokes and heart attacks. Food like garlic, vegetables, fruits play a very important role in maintaining blood pressure.

    Garlic: Garlic dilates the muscles of blood vessels, which helps in lowering blood pressure. It consists of a compound called adenosine which helps in vaso dilation and is also a muscle relaxant. Although, both raw and cooked garlic can benefit blood pressure, raw garlic is more potent and benefits faster. Garlic also interferes with the formation of blood clots and helps in reducing cholesterol. It not only helps lower the risk of colon, gastro intestinal tract and stomach cancers but also improves immunity and prevents gas formation. To get these numerous effects of garlic, all you have to do is finely chop 3-4 cloves of raw garlic and gulp it down with warm water or just extract the juice and drink it. And don’t worry about the strong smell of garlic. People believe that garlic results in body odour, but it’s not true.

    Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables have certain remarkable properties that have a magical effect on blood pressure. Research studies show that switching to a vegetarian diet lowers blood pressure. Fruits are concentrated with potassium, Vitamin C and loads of soluble fibre, all of which contribute to lowering blood pressure. Apart from this, fruits are low in sodium, which favours lowering of blood pressure. People who eat little or no fruits are prone to high blood pressure. Fruits are the best source of natural vitamin C. Make sure you eat fruits everyday to get your daily dose of vitamin C.

     

     

  • PIB’ll promote investment, employment, says Amaechi

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    He said it would promote investment and employment opportunities.

    Amaechi spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt while hosting the House of Representatives’ Committee on Air Force.

    He said the PIB would curb the security challenges in the country.

    Amaechi said: “The PIB, if passed into law, will allow investors come into the country for the overall benefit of all Nigerians. This is so because if we do not enact a law that would attract investors, we cannot progress. Right now, investors are heading towards Angola and we must seek ways of attracting them.”

    The governor urged the Federal Government to make the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) a regulatory agency and give wider opportunities to the private sector to participate in investment.

    He said: “As a governor, I do not know the quantity of oil NNPC produces daily. This is why government should be a regulatory agency and allow investors come in. I think it would facilitate the needed peace in the country.

    Amaechi called for the amendment of the constitution to ensure justice, fairness and transparent leadership.

    He said: “That is why I said we need state police to complement the Nigerian Police. We need to amend the constitution to ensure fairness and justice. We must go above ethnic and parochial interest to guarantee transparency in leadership.”

    Chairman of the House Committee on Air Force Kenneth Archibong said: “We are proud of your numerous achievements, including the 35 patrol vehicles you donated to security formations in the state. We are not in doubt of the sustainable peace in the state and we urge other governors to emulate your enviable gesture.’

  • Five kidnap suspects held in Imo

    THE police in Imo State yesterday arrested a five-man kidnap gang.

    Two victims, a man and a woman, who were abducted yesterday morning in Owerri, the state capital, were rescued.

    Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters, police spokesman Vitalis Onugu said the gang was responsible for many kidnapping and robberies in the state.

    Onugu said: “Two suspects, who are security men at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), invited their confederates in crime from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to Imo to pick two of their victims. The information got to us and we monitored their movement from Port Harcourt. We arrested them as they wanted to abduct their victim.”

    Commissioner for Police Baba Adisa Bolanta assured residents that the command would rid Imo of crime.

    He said: “The command has all it takes to wipe out kidnappers and armed robbers from the state, but we need the co-operation of the public in intelligence gathering.

    “They should come up with credible information on the activities of criminals among them. This would help the police to foil crimes before they are committed.”

  • Election petition: Oshiomhole challenges tribunal’s jurisdiction

    The case Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s lawyers yesterday challenged the competency and jurisdiction of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to try the case filed by the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, in the July election.

    At the State High Court in Benin, the state capital, Oshiomhole’s lead counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of competence and jurisdiction.

    Olanipekun argued that only the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to hear the case, citing several authorities to back his submission.

    He said the petition is fatally defective, adding that the petitioner relied solely on the Electoral Law, rather than the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Olanipekun said the court cannot adjudicate on an issue that is not an election matter.

    He said the issue of forgery of result, which is being pursued by the petitioner, is not a civil case, but a criminal case, which can only be pursued at the Federal High Court.

    Olanipekun urged the court to dismiss the petition.

    Counsel to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ricky Tafa (SAN) aligned with Olanipekun’s argument.

    Airhiavbere, who was absent at the tribunal, was represented by Efe Akpofure (SAN).

    The Tribunal is headed by Justice Suleiman Ambursa.

  • Ministry, SSS burst NECO certificate forgery syndicate

    The Federal Ministry of Education and the State Security Service (SSS) have burst a syndicate which specialises in forging the National Examination Council (NECO) certificates.

    Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike spoke yesterday in Abuja at a parade of the members of the group.

    Wike, according to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said the ministry has established a relationship with relevant security agencies to ensure that those who have developed a structure to fake NECO certificates are tracked down and made to face the law.

    He said: “The arrest of a syndicate that specializes in the forgery of NECO certificates by the State Security Service, one of our security partners, is an indication that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the integrity of our public examinations is guaranteed and protected.

    “We are happy that the State Security Service has used its extensive capacity to track down these suspects, among who are three NECO staff who work in the computer department. These arrests bring to the fore the real reason behind the protests by some NECO staff that resisted legitimate transfers from their comfort zones. The process of fishing out criminals in the public examination system has just begun and we will ensure that every single suspect faces the wrath of the law.”

    The minister noted that going forward the NECO management will be encouraged to take measures that would make it more difficult for syndicates to attempt forging its certificates.

    The SSS, Niger State office after series of operations tracked down a 10-man syndicate led by Kashim Danladi Tahid. The syndicates comprises three staff of NECO who supply the leadership and membership of the syndicate with past candidates numbers, corresponding names and data base to forge the results.

    NECO Registrar, Prof. Promise Okpala expressed satisfaction that the members of the syndicate have been arrested. He said the extensive security features on the NECO certificate make it difficult for the certificate to be successfully forged. He said NECO would continue to cooperate with the ministry and the security agencies to frustrate criminals in the system.

    The Niger State Director of the SSS, Dr Larry Obiagwu, said members of the syndicate admitted to committing the crime. He noted that during the raids that led to the arrests of the suspects, the SSS recovered computers containing NECO data-base, fake NECO seals, fake NECO blank certificate slips, phones containing text messages requesting certificates and grades.

    Tahid admitted being the head of the ring. He said he connived with the three NECO staff to produce the fake NECO certificates. He confessed that each forged certificate was sold for N10,000.

  • 35 lawyers to boost model police scheme

    With the first barch of 35 lawyers, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) M.D. Abubakar has kickstarted the Model Police Station Scheme (MRSS) aimed at improving policing.

    The pilot scheme started in the Isokoko Police Station at Agege, a Lagos suburb, where the IGP is test running the project.

    The lawyers drawn from seven law firms, were presented to the media during the launch of the Legal Advice Scheme by the Justice For All (JFA) and the Department for International Development (DFID) at Isokoko.

    The lawyers are expected to partner with the police to ensure that the MRSS at Isokoko becomes effective. They are expected to routinely visit the station to monitor and document how police officers treat suspects and other visitors.

    The initiators said that the scheme would improve community policing and eradicate abuses of suspects, rights at police stations when it takes off in all police formations nationwide. JFA’s project consultant Tony Cross, said that the Legal Advice scheme would boost residents’ confidence to report crime in their communities.

    He said: “The Legal Advice scheme will have lawyers from seven law firms and each law firm will send five lawyers to partner with police officers at the Isokoko Police Station to ensure that the MPSS.

    “The lawyers will randomly visit the station in a routine day and night to monitor the suspects, cell and to document what they observe. The aim is to make sure that police officers act in accordance with the law.

    “Also we have printed these rights in leaflets in five different languages so that the suspects will have access to them. The scheme also provides the suspects with free legal services from the lawyers.”

    Speaking on behalf of lawyers, Segun Oyewale said for the scheme to work, the government should provide logistics, equipment and better packages for the police boost their morale.

    Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Community Policing Mr Lawal Ado, who represented the IGP, said the police would provide the enabling environment for the scheme to work.

  • The Nation man makes case for NYSC at book launch

    With rising insecurity and recent attacks on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, the programme, created to foster unity, seems to be losing its popularity.

    But for the author of Served, a book presented in Lagos yesterday, the fading glory of the mandatory programme can be restored.

    Written by The Nation, reporter, Joseph Agbro jnr,, the book chronicles the life, experience and survival instincts of a youth corps member in a village far away from his hometown.

    It gives a vivid description of what the national orientation camp looks like. It reminds the reader of the national anthem and paints the picture of the birth of compatriot.

    To the older generation, the book is a nostalgic, taking the reader down memory lane. For the fresh graduate, it is a literary replay of their NYSC experience, and for the undergraduates, it is an eye opener to the world that awaits them in the national orientation camp.

  • Fed Govt worried over flooding

    Fed Govt worried over flooding

    The Federal Government yesterday said it was worried over the floods ravaging parts of the country.

    It described natural disaster as a potential threat to food security, saying the situation at hand is as a matter of national emergency.

    According to the Minister of the Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, Kogi State, has the most devastating impact of the floods out of the seven states affected.

    Mrs. Malaifia told reporters at the end of the weekly Federal Executove Council (FEC) meeting alongside  Labaran Maku (Information), Mr. Mike Onolememen (Works), Senator Idris Umar (Transport) and Nyesom Wike (State, Education), that the federal government is concerned.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo chaired yesterday’s meeting in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan is away to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, (United States).

    The minister noted that in the estimation of the government, over 5,000 farmlands were washed away by the ravaging flood across the country.

    She argued that the high number of affected farmlands was a potential threat to food security.

    Besides, she said the situation could lead to the breakout of epidemic, saying the disaster has the capacity of affecting the health of the people.

    The minister said: “The consequences (of the flood) is that there are huge loss of farmlands. These are likely threats to food security. We are likely going to have challenges that have to do with the health of the people in some areas.

    “The flooding we are experiencing in the country do not in any way fall into what you can term man-made. This is a natural phenomenon that cuts across the globe. With the technology in places like the United States, they still had the flooding there, in China and even our neighbour Niger with an arid land.

    “For anyone to think that government has not done well or that there was something that we needed to do that we have not done is a little bit awesome because there is a limit to which you can fight nature.

    “Where you have in a country where well over 5,000 farmlands washed away, then there is cause for attention. It is of national interest. So, all what we are saying is that it is a national emergency. It calls for sober reflection.”

    According to her, the development would affect the school calendar in the affected states.

    On the Kogi flood that has rendered the Lokoja-Abuja Road impassable, she said three contractors: Messrs Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe as well as RCC had been mobilised to site.

    She assured stakeholders that the alternative route being constructed for motorists would be ready on Thursday (today).

    On criticism that the government team only did aerial assessment of the impact of the flood, Mrs Mailafia argued that there was no way the chopper used for the assessment could land in a state like Plateau because of the magnitude of the flood.

    “Some people said why did we fly? We could not have landed on water and there was a limit to where we could drive,” she explained.

    The minister warned other states to be prepared because while the water will be finding its way into the Atlantic Ocean, it would pass through some states.

    She said in a couple of days, the team would also be visiting some other states on the same matter.

    Onolememen said the Federal Government’s inspection team did a number of land survey and decided on an approach to mitigate the situation.

    He said the alternative road identified has attained 60 per cent completion as at yesterday, assuring that it would be ready on today.

    Umar also debunked insinuations that the dredging of Lower River Niger was responsible for the flooding, insisting that it was a natural disaster.

    The incident has affected the Good Governance Tour of Federal Government to Kogi State.

    The scheduled visit to the Northcentral state was suspended yesterday. A new date would be announced.

    Maku explained that due to the challenge posed by the flood, organisers of tour had decided to give the government and people of the state time to recover.

    Instead of moving to Kogi, the minister said the team would now go to Kwara next week and from there visit other Northcentral states.