The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • FG to engage doctors on ad-hoc basis

    FG to engage doctors on ad-hoc basis

    The Federal Government has directed Chief Medical Directors of Federal Hospitals to immediately engage the services of locum doctors, to augment the services of Consultants, pending the resolution of the ongoing strike by the resident doctors.

    It can be recalled that the  Federal Government expressed “deep shock and utter disappointment as Resident Doctors began an indefinite strike to press home their demand for better pay.

    The action is come three days after their leadership signed a  memorandum of terms of settlement with the government.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known in a statement issued by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relations on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Read also: Anambra doctors defy strike

    The directive was contained in a circular dated Sept. 5, addressed to all CMDs/MDs of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions across the country.

    According to the minister, the directive was an attempt by the government to reduce the increased work load of Consultants, NYSC doctors and House Officers, thereby preventing reduction in quality of service delivery to patients.

    Read also: Striking doctors demand serious commitment from FG

    “This new directive was to further provide additional support for the Federal Government hospitals, to strengthen service delivery.

    “The government is committed to fulfilling the mandate of providing health for its citizens no matter the circumstances we find ourselves,” Adewole said.

    The Minister had earlier approved the use of Armed forces, Police and Federal Road Safety health facilities in ensuring continuous provision of health care services in the Federal Hospitals.

  • FG plans to deliver energy efficient houses soon

    FG plans to deliver energy efficient houses soon

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has concluded plans to embark on the massive construction of energy efficient housing across the country as part of the efforts to motivate the ordinary Nigerian worker.

    The energy efficient houses are such that would use less power consumption or minimum energy and provide maximum comfort as well as take into account the need and financial convenience of would be owners.

    The Minister of State for Works, Power, and Housing II, Alhaji Suleiman Hassan Jara dropped this hint in Gombe when he visited home during the Sallah break.

    He said the concepts, which discussed at a recent workshop on housing would be delivered in every state and possibly, every local government area of the country

    “We are talking of delivering houses that are adaptable, that are affordable. It will take into consideration our culture and our climate.

    “We just did a workshop last week, and it’s saying we should do housing that is energy efficient.

    “That means a house that will use less power consumption with better ventilation, so that you needn’t have to use so many ACs, you don’t have to use so many bulbs, but minimum energy, maximum comfort,” he said.

    The Minister further explained that government was considering a whole lot of things towards making the houses affordable without compromising quality.

    “So, we are looking at a model, where the cost of the building will come less.

    “We are also looking at it what else constitute the cost of the building; if it is the land, we will see how easy it will be to access land to make housing better for the people.

    “Is it the structure? We will look at that one and also the person that is going to occupy that building and then build to his capacity without compromising quality,” he said.

    He said the project would begin with needs assessment of would be owners as they would be contributing to the construction of the buildings.

    “So, we’ll first look at the needs of the persons we are building the houses for, know what they need and then build houses for them.

    “Again, you are the one who will contribute into the fund, anyway. So, as you are contributing, we will ask for your need and then factor you into it before we deliver the project,” the Minister explained.

    He said government was being painstaking because it does not deliver houses that would not be occupied as there many houses out there that are not occupied because it is not their need and it is unaffordable.

  • Fed Govt, Labour clash over Perm Sec’s posting

    Crisis is gradually brewing between the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), over the posting of a new Permanent Secretary by the Head of Service of the Federation.

    Chairman, FCT Joint Unions Action Committee, Comrade Titus Okoro accused the office of the Head of Service of always posting junior officers to oversee the affairs of senior directors in the FCTA.

    Okoro, who briefed newsmen on the development, said the Head of Service did not follow due process, adding, “It was our plans, ab initio, to stage a peaceful protest immediately after the retirement of the immediate past FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, but after consultations with stakeholders and other union leaders, we decided to approach the issue in a more civil manner, hence, we have decided to address you to carry the message to the appropriate quarters with a view to doing the right thing.     “While we welcome our brand new Permanent Secretary to FCT Administration, we want to use this medium to draw the attention of the Head of Service of the Federation to the Dissolution Order 1 of 2004, which in practical terms abolishes the office of a Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, as a quasi-State of the Federation. If the Head of Service is still feigning ignorance of the law, then today’s press conference will serve as an eye opener because we trust that the caliber of media organisations represented here are capable of conveying the message to their doorsteps.”

    The union urged the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to advise President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to revert to the Dissolution Order for effective administrative structures.

    It also called on the National Assembly to pass into law the FCT Civil Service Commission and other Bills that will enhance effective administration as applicable in other states of the federation since the 1999 constitution recognises the FCT as one of the states.

    Okoro said, “Retrospectively, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) gave birth to Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) via Order 1 of 2004. In summary, the Dissolution Order 1 of 2004 simply states that “the administrative and bureaucratic structure established and referred to as the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory is hereby abolished with effect from December 31, 2004. There shall be established for the Federal Capital Territory, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Minister. The Chief of Staff shall be appointed by the Minister, and shall enjoy the conditions of service applicable to a Special Assistant in the Office of the President. The Chief of Staff shall perform the functions that a Secretary to the Government of a State customarily performs in relation to that State.   “It is instructive to note that in the exercise of the powers conferred on Mr. President by Section 299 and 302 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and Sections 14 and 18(b) of the Federal Capital Territory Act Cap F6 Laws of Nigeria 2004 and other powers enabling Mr. President in that behalf, and with the intention to ensure the prompt, effective and efficient administration of, and delivery of services to the residents in the Federal Capital Territory, the Dissolution Order 1 was gazetted in 2005, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. (Please see attached document for ease of reference).

    “It is disheartening when Head of Service of the Federation post a junior officer to oversee the affairs of very Senior Directors in the FCT Administration. In our considered views, it is absolutely anti-progressive. We therefore as organized body vehemently kick against the posting of a Permanent Secretary to FCT Administration by the Service.

    “We, however, pledge as obedient servants to work with the new Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian C. Ohaa, until the Service do the needful by complying with extant laws that established the Federation Capital Territory Administration.

    “We want to re-echo in an unmistakable terms that we stand on Dissolution Order 1 of 2004.”

  • FG to introduce bicycle riding in FCT

    FG to introduce bicycle riding in FCT

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said on Monday the Federal Government plans to introduce bicycle riding in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The project is expected to aid physical fitness and boost investment in the country.

    He also said the Lagos-Ibadan rail project would lead to employment of 150,000 people.

    Rotimi disclosed these at the end of the 15th meeting of National Council on Transportation with the theme: ‘Efficiency of Inter-modality in Transportation: Panacea for Economic Recovery.”

    He said: “The National Council on Transportation is a policy making Council and we have approved that we should do a pilot project on bicycle riding in FCT because it is the only city that has facility for bicycle riding.

    “We decided that we do it in Abuja because if you check, nearly all the roads in Abuja have lanes for bicycle.”

    “It is there in China and UK. It is an investment that would help reduce the number of passengers that are looking for modern form of transportation within the cities.

    “Other states that want to do it must provide facility before they can proceed because we want to separate cyclists from the roads and some motorists can be very impatient with them.

    “So states that want to go ahead can do that. But they must provide lanes for bicycle so that we don’t have numerous accidents.”

    On the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, the minister added: “Construction work on the railway would really boost economy. Between Lagos to Ibadan, the railway work, going on there would produce jobs for about 150,000 workers and the business would help employ more people.”

  • Resident doctors commence nationwide strike

    Resident doctors commence nationwide strike

    The last minute effort by the Federal Government to stop resident doctors from embarking on a nationwide strike has failed.

    President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, John Onyebueze announced the commencement of the nationwide indefinite strike action early hours of Monday.

    Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige had on Saturday after a meeting with the doctors which was also attended by Minister of Health; Prof. Isaac Adewole hinted that the planned strike had been suspended.

    The doctors however refuted the statement, saying though they met with the government, but were yet to take a decision.

    Ngige, was quoted by Channels Television as saying on Friday that the doctors suspended the strike after a meeting.

    Mr. Ngige said the meeting would continue on November 2.

    The strike action is expected to adversely affect healthcare in public secondary and tertiary hostpitals in the country, particularly the teaching hospitals.

    Onyebueze stated that the doctors rejected the “promissory offer from Government, and proceed on total and indefinite strike action until all items in her demand list for strike action.”

    The resident doctors had earlier threatened to go on strike from September 4, if the federal government does not meet their demands including their immediate enrolment in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

    NARD felt that neither the federal nor state governments has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake nor honoured previous agreements.

    Consequent upon this, the association resolved to proceed on a total indefinite industrial action from Monday, September 4, 2017, until all these issues are permanently resolved.

  • World Coconut Day: Don urges FG to formulate policies to boost investment

    World Coconut Day: Don urges FG to formulate policies to boost investment

    Prof. MacDonald Idu has called on the Federal Government to formulate a policy that will attract investment in the coconut sector as the world celebrates World Coconut Day.

    Idu, of the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that the country could make earnings and investments in the sector.

    According to him, as the world celebrates World Coconut Day, government should support investment in the coconut sector,

    He cited Brazil and other countries as having huge investment in coconut business.

    “The Federal Government needs to formulate policies that will encourage investments in coconut business in the country.

    “Today, Nigerians are feasting on coconuts from Cotonou, Ghana and other countries which to me is ridiculous.

    “We have the shores and everything in this country to grow the plant. We also have research institutes with coconut as one of their mandates.

    “The government can put in money into the institutes and their research work on coconut to make it blossom and generate revenue for the country.

    “They can also fund small scale private sector investors in coconuts. This will generate employment and people taking off the streets,” Idu said.

    The don said that investors could be trained on how to produce and package their coconuts related products properly and export them to other countries.

    He said that the second name for coconut oil was “Tree of Life”, adding that all parts of the fruit was useful.

    Idu said that Nigeria has the best type of coconut in the world.

    “This means that we have something that we can show to the world that will improve on our daily living.

    “There are many things that coconut can do. It serves as food and medicine. Coconut oil is multipurpose oil; there are about 200 uses of coconuts.

    “You can use it to soften your skin, reduce sugar level, prevent wrinkles, premature grey hair or hair lost. It can be used to prevent and treat mosquito bite.

    “Government should formulate policies that will encourage investment in coconut to produce range of products that will help the people,’’ Idu said.

    NAN reports that Sept. 2 has been designated as Coconut Day by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) with headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    All major coconut-growing countries including members of the APCC join in the celebration.

    The annual celebration is aimed at creating awareness on the importance of coconut and its potential.

    In Nigeria, the Association of Coconuts Oil Extractors of Nigeria recognise and celebrate this day.

  • Kano screens 11, 000 cooks for feeding programme

    Kano screens 11, 000 cooks for feeding programme

    No fewer than 11,000 cooks have so far been screened in preparation for the commencement of the National Home-grown School Feeding programme in Kano state.

    Hajiya Aisha Jafar, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Social Intervention programmes, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Kano on Saturday.

    Jafar, who is also the Focal person on Federal Government social intervention programmes in the state, said the screening was done in seven designated health centers.

    According to her, the screening was aimed at ascertaining the health status of the prospective cooks.

    “In Kano state we require over 13,000 cooks for the implementation of this important programme but so far over 11, 000 cooks have been screened.

    “Each cook will not cook for over 150 pupils because they are expected to cook good meal for the pupils.

    “The programme will soon commence in Kano state as all the necessary arrangements have almost been completed,” she said.

    On N-power programme, Jafar said that 91,734 unemployed youths have registered under the second phase of the programme in the state as at July.

    She advised all those who applied for the programme to attend the physical screening exercise expected to be conducted soon.

    She also commended the Federal Government for introducing the N-power programme which is one of four schemes under the social intervention programmes.

    She said that the intervention programmes had checked social vices among the teeming unemployed youth in the state and the country at large.

     

  • Indefinite strike: FG, resident doctors sign MoU

    Indefinite strike: FG, resident doctors sign MoU

    The Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with members of the National Association of Resident Doctors aimed at preventing Resident Doctors in federal government owned health facilities across the country from embarking on their planned strike action which was scheduled to commence on Monday, September 4.

    In the memorandum signed by government representatives and officials of the association and the Nigeria Medical Association and made available to newsmen at the end of a meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government and the association stressed that some of the issues being complained of by the association were already being addressed by the government.

    The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Health,  Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State Labour and Employment. Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, President of National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Onyebueze John and Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule among others.

    Other signatories to the memorandum are representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

    The National Association of Resident Doctors had informed the government that it embark on an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, September 4, 2017 due to failure of government to pay salary shortfall for 2016 and between January and May, 2017.

    Other issues in dispute according to the association are Failure to rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017; failure to circularize House Officers’ entry point; failure to correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level; failure to enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and failure to budget, deduct and remit both the employer and employees’ contributions our pension to our retirement savings account since 2013.”

    A memorandum signed at the end of the meeting reads in part: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

    “It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

    On the issue of shortfall in salaries, the meeting mandated “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

    “Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where Parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

    “It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularized, after getting the quantum from FmoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

    “Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for Hearing in March, 2018.

    “It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

    “The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorized skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for Medical Doctors in the Public Service.

    “The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

    “In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

    “Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

    “It was concluded that NARD members are on Pensionable appointment and as such the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

    “Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “Employees”. The letter went further to define an employee as any person employed in the service of the Federation, the FCT, a Government of a State of Nigeria, Local Government Council or private company or organization or firm.

    “In view of the foregoing terms of settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

     

  • Strike update: ASUU, Govt meeting fails to hold as union makes counter offer

    Strike update: ASUU, Govt meeting fails to hold as union makes counter offer

    The much-publicized meeting between the Federal government and officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) aimed at resolving the ongoing indefinite strike by the university lecturers yesterday failed to hold as scheduled.

    The leadership of the lecturers did not show up for the meeting which was scheduled to commence at 12.00 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, but The Nation gathered that the meeting was put off at the last minute to due to counter offer received by the government from the leadership of the union.

    Addressing newsmen, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the meeting had to be put off to enable the government team to consider the counter offer received from the union and to possibly get the nod of the Federal Executive Council on the some of the issues contained in the union’s demand.

    The Minister said: “The government as you know has made an offer to ASUU through the ministry of education and late yesterday (Monday) ASUU got back to us with their counter offer. By then, this meeting had been scheduled and the government side needed to deliberate on their counter offer before we can have a reconciliation meeting to further discuss areas of disagreement. That is the position right now. 

    “We are holding a government side meeting, while, the Minister of Education is also holding a meeting and we will meet later today and formalize our position. Tomorrow is Federal Executive Council meeting and there are aspects that we will need FEC approval to go on with. Thereafter, we will meet with the ASUU team either tomorrow evening or Thursday morning, which ever will be more convenient.”

    The President of the Union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi also confirmed that the union has placed a counter demand before the government and expressed the hope that the union will receive a positive response from the government within the shortest possible time.

    In a statement made available to newsmen, the ASUU President said after due consultations with its members on August 17, 2017, meeting with the government, it has collated the views of its members and submitted same to the government.

    The statement reads: “Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were forced to proceed on indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action on Sunday 13th August 2017 following government failure to implement issues, on which understanding was reached during the suspended warning strike of November 2016.

    “We have since held talks with Representatives of government and consulted our members nationwide in steps to be taken to immediately resolve the lingering crisis. Among issues in the dispute are registration of , fractionalization of salaries in federal universities and gross under funding/ non-funding of state universities, and arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowance. 

    “Other issues are the release of fund for the revitalization of public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, guidelines for retirement benefits of professors in line with 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Treasury Single Account (TSA) and withdrawal of support for universities staff primary schools.

    “On Thursday, we met with officials of the Ministry of Education and Labour and Employment where it was agreed that the union should consult and “revert to government”. Following due consultations, we have collated the views of our members on the offers from the government in dispute in the letter of 16th August 2017. These views were submitted to the federal government vide our letter dated 28th August 2017.

    “As we await the federal government’s action on our letter, we hope that it would not be long before we receive a positive response which will bring an end to the dispute. Meanwhile, we thank all Nigerians, particularly our students (and their parents) and the media for their understanding so far in the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the Nigerian University System and for the overall development t of the country.”

  • FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

    FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

    The Federal Government has declared Friday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 4 as Public Holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

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    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau‎, made the statement on behalf of the Federal Government on Monday in Abuja.

    Dr Rufai Attahiru, overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry signed the statement in Abuja on Monday.

    The minister urged Muslim faithful and all Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country’s democracy.
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    Dambazau called on Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, in its determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country.‎
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    He assured Nigerians of safety in all parts of the country, emphasising that security agencies had been directed to maintain peace and protect lives and property during and after the celebration.

    Danbazau condemned in strong terms, the prevalence of hate speeches in the country and warned that the Federal Government would henceforth deal with perpetrators according to the law.

    He stressed that government would continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march toward actualising the full potential of Nigeria.
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    The minister wished all Nigerians a most rewarding and Happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration.‎