The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • Ex-Militant leader to FG: Don’t dialogue with criminals

    Ex-Militant leader to FG: Don’t dialogue with criminals

    The Federal Government has been advised to suspend its plan to dialogue with the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers in the Niger Delta region to prevent upsurge of such groups.

    National President, National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A , Israel Akpodoro Friday, in Abuja stated that any effort to dialogue with the militants would give rise to more troublesome groups.

    Akpodoro stated that ‎the new militant groups, including the Egbesu Water Lions had engaged in renewed hostilities among which were attacks on the nation’s oil pipelines.

    He said contrary to advise by the elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who advised the President Muhammadu Buhari to meet with the militants on peaceful agreement, Clark should make it a responsibility to persuade the militants to sheath their sword and embrace peace.

    He added that the statesman should justify his advise by producing ‎Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, who had been summoned severally by the federal government.
    The ex-militant alleged ‎that new agitators were drawn from the league of ex-militants, who were on the payroll of the amnesty programme.

    He questioned how long the federal government will continue to declare amnesty in the region, amidst prevailing economic situation.

    “‎The neo militant groups were directly under the command of accused Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, so those calling for dialogue should produce him to the FG before having the moral rectitude to call for dialogue.

    “Acting like father to economic saboteurs and forming protective ring around criminals in the region won’t do us any good at this critical period of our nationhood. The call by Chief E.K.Clark, to say the least came as a rude shock and unbecoming of a man who would always want criminals of Ijaw extraction protected in the name of calls for dialogue.

    “Nigerians would want to know from Chief Clark who are the avengers? Who are the sponsors and what are they avenging at this critical period in our nationhood?

    “Hiding under the cloak of dialogue to part criminals on the back by giving them amnesty is a dubious thing to ask for. How many times have youth in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo State…blown up pipelines to stampede federal government into granting them amnesty? The FG should dialogue, the army should go all out for these crooks who festers on cheap and free money,” he stated.

    Akpodoro described the attackers of oil pipelines as demagogues and evil doers, who are out to foment trouble to stampede the federal government into paying them amnesty.

    However, the pro Buhari ex-militant leader said the call for dialogue by some Ijaw leaders were ploy to armstwist the federal government into being cowed by the Ijaw youths.

    He added that such calls should be ignored in the interest of peace and tranquility in the region.‎

  • ‘Incessant strikes in health sector very embarrassing’ – JUTH CMD

    Prof. Edmund Banwat, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has flayed incessant strikes in the health sector, describing the situation as “very embarrassing”.

    “The incessant strikes in a key sector like health is disheartening and has become a source of embarrassment to us,” Banwat told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Monday.

    Banwat, who was reacting to the two-months-old strike of JUTH workers, said that government was taking stiff measures to check the trend.

    “The health workers have formed a habit of abandoning their duty posts at the slightest excuse; this raises questions as to our professional vow to save lives.

    “The incessant strikes make nonsense of such professional vows to place human lives over any other vain pursuit bordering on money,” he said.

    To check the strikes, he said that the Federal Government has issued a circular reminding heads of medical facilities of the No-work-no-pay policy.

    A copy of the circular, signed By Mr Danjuma Kurau, Director, Human Resources Management Department in the Federal Ministry of Health, directed all institutional heads to immediately implement the policy as contained in the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8.

    “The total disregard to this law has contributed in no small measure to the incessant labour disputes ravaging the health sector leading to the loss of several months of service.

    “The health sector is one of the essential services prohibited by law from embarking on strikes, but government has been subjected to much ridicule and embarrassment owing to frequent strikes.”

    The circular quoted the minister as directing that salaries and allowances should not be paid to any staff “who chooses the path of strike”.

    On the strike by the JUTH workers since March 7, Banwat said that the action was “very unnecessary”.

    “We met with the JUTH chapter of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOEHSU) before the strike and have met several times after it began where all the local issues were resolved, but I keep wondering why they are still at home,’’ said the CMD.

    NAN recalls that JOHESU’s spokesman, Mr Mustafa Kabir, attributed the strike to issues bordering on promotion, lack of beds and basic consumables in the hospital, as well as the refusal to regulate the appointment of casual staff.

    Kabir also alleged that Banwat had been very insensitive to the plight of the workers, among other issues.

    But the CMD said that his administration had promoted staff stagnated for more than 14 years, pointing out that other issues of promotion were beyond JUTH and being handled by the national body of the union in Abuja.

    He dismissed claims that the hospital had shortage of beds and other consumables, and challenged anyone with doubt to visit the hospital stores.

    He also rejected insinuation that the mortuary was in bad shape, explaining that the one at the temporary site had been handed over to the Plateau Government, while the mortuary at the permanent site was in excellent condition.

    The CMD also accused JOHESU officials of subjecting members to “unncessary pain”, noting that the JOHESU headquarters had confirmed that issues within the capacity of JUTH had been effectively sorted out.

    On the casual staff, he said that he inherited 200 casual staff and was working with the Federal Character Commission toward regularising their employment.

  • FG promise to generate 27000 megawatts 

    FG promise to generate 27000 megawatts 

    The Federal Government has promised that 27,000 Megawatts of power would be generated within the next 18 months to address the challenge of epileptic power supply in the country.

    Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo made this known at a book presentation held at Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan on Monday.

    Prof Osinbajo noted that implementation of the 2016 budget would commence in the next few days and priority would be accorded to the power sector to proffer lasting solutions to electricity supply in the country.

    He identified the major challenges of power supply in the country to include pipe line vandalism and transmission of gas from gas wells to power plants.

    The Vice President who hinted that about 5,000 Megawatts of power was generated shortly after the present administration took over the mantle of leadership before pipelines were blown by vandals, said the Federal Government had put up adequate measures to forestall pipeline vandalism.

    Prof Osinbajo maintained that no public office holders found guilty of corruption would go unpunished as the present administration remained committed to fighting corruption in the country.

    Prof Osinbajo on the occasion, also called on Nigerian elites to continue to promote and advance the visions of Government towards national development.

    Earlier in his remarks, Chairman on the occasion, Oba Otudeko enjoined Nigerians to remain committed to the cause for a better Nigeria by performing their civic responsibilities and complementing Governments efforts.

     

  • CITN chief to FG: Check herdsmen excesses

    CITN chief to FG: Check herdsmen excesses

    The President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mrs Olateju Somorin, has advised the Federal Government to introduce a Cattle Rearing Tax to check the excesses of herdsmen in parts of the country.

    Somorin gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the abduction ceremony of new members of the institute on Friday in Lagos.

    According to Somorin, Cattle Rearing Tax if imposed on nomads will reduce the penchant of herdsmen to invade Nigerian communities at will.

    “If Cattle Rearing Tax is imposed, nomads will prefer to stay in a place for grazing.”

    She said the Federal Government could achieve this by directing states to impose the tax.

    The CITN chief noted that bloodletting arising from incessant killing of farmers by herdsmen could degenerate and give rise to security challenges like the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Herdsmen have descended on many communities in parts of the country in recent times, killing, raping and looting communities in a bid to secure grazing rights for their animals.

    Somorin lamented that recurrent killing by herdsmen such as the latest invasion of Ukpabi, Nimbo Community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, was becoming too many.

    “The institute is using this opportunity to commiserate with the families of those reported killed in the invasion.

    “We pray to God to grant them eternal rest and that God should also prevent its reoccurrence,” she said.

  • NDE disburses N1.5m to graduate trainees in Nasarawa State

    NDE disburses N1.5m to graduate trainees in Nasarawa State

    The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Thursday in Lafia disbursed resettlement tools and equipment worth N1.5 million to 18 graduate trainees of vocational skills programme in Nasarawa State.

    Mr Kunle Obayan, the Acting Director-General of NDE, who distributed the tools, said that the gesture was to enable the unemployed graduate trainees become self reliant and contribute their quota to national development.

    Obayan, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Special Public Works, Mr Monday Dalyop, said that the Federal Government was planning to create employment opportunities for unskilled and unemployed Nigerians, hence the need for the gesture.

    “NDE came into existence in 1986, saddled with the responsibilities of training people especially the youths and women in different skills acquisition programmes in the country in order to be self reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.

    “Today is significant to us in the NDE, in the sense that what we are witnessing was as a result of the Federal Government’s efforts toward tackling unemployment,” he said.

    Obayan said that the same gesture would be extended by the Federal Government to states that are yet to benefit in order to fight unemployment, poverty and boost socio-economic development in the country.

    Earlier, Alhaji Dauda Idris-Wase, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NDE, said that the gesture would help reduce the high rate of unemployment in the state.

    “The Agency is resettling 18 young men and women trained in welding, GSM repairs, computer operations, electrical installations, hair dressing, barbing, catering, tailoring, plumbing and pipe, interior decoration and shoe making in the state with soft loan.

    “The repayment period of the loan is three years and six months, as the package is highly subsidised, so I charge you not to fail us, serve as good example and morale booster to those that may come after you,” Idris-Wase said.

    A beneficiary, Clementina Obele, who responded on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked NDE for the gesture and promised to live up to expectation.

  • Attack: Nigeria Union in South Africa tasks FG on citizen protection

    The Nigeria Union in South Africa has urged the Federal Government to protect its citizens in that country, following another an attack on Nigerians in Cape Town.

     

    The President of the union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, made the call in a telephone interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday.

     

    Anyene told NAN that the attack took place at Du-Noon, a suburb of Cape Town on Monday.

     

    According to him, the union received reports that a demonstration by some South Africans over poor service delivery by their government, turned violent, degenerating to attacks on Nigerians and some other Africans, with their property being looted and destroyed.

     

    “During the protest, it turned violent; they started attacking homes and shops owned by foreigners.

     

    “Nigerians, Somalis and Kenyans were attacked and their homes and shops looted.”

     

    Anyene said that a Nigerian, Tunde Salami, sustained serious head injury and was hospitalised while others with minor injuries had been treated and discharged.

     

    He said that the property destroyed included building materials, cosmetics, saloon shops, cell phones and accessories, cooking utensils and foodstuffs.

     

    According to him, 33 Nigerian shops were affected in the violent protest.

     

    The president expressed sadness that the police who were said to have accompanied the protesters, failed to prevent them from looting and destroying property belonging to foreigners.

     

    He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigerian Consulate and would soon visit Cape Town to assess the situation of things.

     

    Meanwhile, a source close to the Consulate, confirmed to NAN that the report had been received.

  • Tyre importers decry multiple charges by agencies

    Tyre importers decry multiple charges by agencies

    Tyre Importers Union at the African Tyre Village, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, on Wednesday decried multiple charges on imported tyres by the various agencies at the ports.

     

    The Vice-President of the union, Mr Okechukwu Ezeifeoma, expressed the displeasure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

     

    He said the “never-ending“ charges on their consignments by government agencies, especially the Customs was killing their business.

     

    The importer urged the Federal Government to intervene in the situation.

     

    “Honestly, we are not happy with the situation. How can we talk of a profitable business when all we hope to make is used to pay charges to this and that government agencies?

     

    “Even within Customs alone, they ask you to go to this section and pay; then pay on that desk and so on and by the time you finish payment, all your profit is gone.

     

    “We are calling on the government to intervene in the situation because if something is not done soon we might just be forced out of business, “ he told NAN.

     

    Ezeifeoma decried the influx of substandard tyres into the country, saying the situation was a threat to the economy as well as lives.

     

    He said importers at the village would collaborate with the relevant government agencies, especially the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that only quality tyres were brought into the country.

     

    The importer commended SON for setting a target to rid the country of substandard goods within three months, adding that the nation stood to benefit immensely if the target was met.

  • Buhari’s administration needs support not condemnations -Primate

    Buhari’s administration needs support not condemnations -Primate

    The Primate of the African Church, His Eminence Emmanuel Udofia has said what the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari needs from Nigerians is support not condemnation.

    He particularly called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the President on it war against corruption.

    Udofia stated this at the inauguration of the Oka-Akoko Province, which comprising of Oka-Akoko Diocese, Ekiti Diocese, Ondo Central Missionary Diocese, Ekiti Oke Diocese, Kogi Diocese and Akoko-Idoani Diocese.

    The event, which was held at the African church in Ibaka Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West local government area of Ondo State, the Primate also installed the Most Rev. Toyin Adeyemi as the Archbishop of the province.

    The primate noted that Buhari mean well for the nation particularly on his battle against corruption, which he said was the bane of the challenges facing the nation.

    He also added that he is aware that some unscrupulous elements are doing everything possible to ensure the administration fail.

    He urged Nigerians to rise up and continue to pray for the President.

    Udofia described the present challenges facing the country as a trying time which he said would soon become a blessing time.

    He urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying a Nation like Israel that was chosen by God and which is now a blessed nation had once faced a lot of challenges.

    He said “at the end of the day, God visited Israel and transform their situation for good. So the same thing can happen in Nigeria, as long as we are ready to look up to the Lord and repent from our sins. These challenges are matter of time.

    “On my way coming for this event, I bought petrol at a filling station at the rate of N230 and I know this is one of the challenges we are facing, but I believe if we are ready to pray to God and repent from our sins, things we change for better for us in this country”.

    He however asked all the leaders to be focus, invite God into their midst and seek for direction on way forward for the country.

    The event was witnessed by the Church Provincial Trustee, Otunba Sehinde Arogbofa, the Provincial Vice Lay President, Chief Idowu Ogunsemi, former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Paul Alabi Provincial Secretary, Mr. Oni Friday.

    Others include traditional rulers such as Olubaka of Oka Akoko, Oba Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, Owa Ale of Ikare-Akoko Oba Adegbite Adedoyin, Olupe of Ipeland, and Oba Francis Apata.

     

     

  • Bishop advises FG to be pragmatic, reduce hardships

    The Bishop of Pankshin Diocese in Plateau, Mr Michael Gokum, has urged the Federal Government to be pragmatic in its policy and programme implementation and save Nigerians from the current hard times.

     

    He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pankshin on Thursday.

     

    “Times are hard and the people are really suffering; I hope God will inspire our leaders, especially the Federal Government to do something drastic and save the situation.

     

    “Nigeria is so blessed yet the people are suffering because of the greediness of our supposed leaders, who are starshing billions of Naira within and outside the country.

     

    “The doctrine of putting the interest of others before yours is not being observed here in Nigeria because of lack of fear of God, ’’ he lamented.

     

    Gokum said the situation the country found itself was not God but man made, which called for drastic action to save it from total collapse.

     

    While commending the Federal Government for its fight against corruption, the bishop said there was need for quick and deliberate action to reduce the suffering of the masses.

     

    According to him, the leaders are servants of the people and should be seen to be serving the people well, else God would not be happy.

     

    “As a people, we should be considerate in whatever we do; the faith in us should inspire us to always do the right thing and not to cheat, ’’ he said.

     

    The bishop prayed for the leadership of the nation at federal, state and local levels to succeed in the tasks given to them for the good of the nation and the citizens.

     

    He also called on Nigerians to be prayerful and “do what is right for God to help us move forward as a nation.

  • Nigeria loses $700m monthly on shipment of crude oil – NISA

    The president, Nigeria Indigenous Ship Owners Association (NISA), Mr Aminu Umar, said the nation was losing 700 million dollars monthly (N137.9 billion) to dominance of crude oil shipment by foreign shipowners.

     

    Umar made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos on the sideline of the Annual General Meeting of the association.

     

    He urged the Federal Government to grant indigenous shipowners between 10 to 20 per cent allocation in lifting crude oil.

     

    The shipowner said that Nigeria was losing a huge amount of money due to the fact that the foreign shipowners had dominated the transportation of crude oil.

     

    “Almost 70 to 77 crude oil vessels load oil monthly out of Nigeria.

     

    “The foreign shipowners do not employ Nigerians and they do not pay tax.

     

    “What we are telling the Federal Government is to give us the support so that we can take at least 10 per cent of the crude oil vessels operating in Nigerian waters,“ Umar told NAN.

     

    He said that if government could give indigenous shipowners 10 per cent allocation to lift crude oil, they would create jobs for the teeming youths and would retain the proceeds in the nation’s banks.

     

    Umar said that indigenous shipowners would also pay tax which would assist the government in its responsibilities.

     

    He said that the association was ready to partner with the government to check the shortcomings in crude oil trade.

     

    Umar noted that there was zero participation by indigenous shipowners in transportation of crude oil.

     

    The shipowner said that government’s policy had not been supporting indigenous ship owner.

     

    He urged government to give indigenous shipowners maximum support and to also create a conducive environment for them to excel.

     

    Umar said that the recent changes in leadership of the maritime sector had slowed the association down in arranging meetings with both the minister of transportation and heads of maritime agencies.

     

    He said that the association would like to partner with government for proper understanding of the maritime industry as an alternative to foreign exchange challenge confronting the nation.

     

    Umar said that freight earnings through the maritime industry could be an alternative source of revenue, if government could grant at least 10 per cent of indigenous ship owners the licence to lift crude oil.