The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FG

  • Militancy: Avengers deny dialogue with FG

    Militancy: Avengers deny dialogue with FG

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the insurgent group, which has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks on oil and gas assets in the oil-rich region in recent times, has denied agreeing to any dialogue talks with the federal government.

    NDA was responding to queries from journalists over another report, which hit the airwaves earlier Wednesday credited to one Ballantyne Agiri, spokesman for the Dialogue Group, to the effect that the insurgent group was ready to dialogue with government.

    However, in a response by the group’s spokesman, Mudoch  Agbinibo, the Avengers denied both the report and its purveyor (Agiri), saying it had no plans to dialogue or enter into a meeting with government.

    “That report is not from us. We are not in any form of dialogue agreement with anybody. It’s like the Government wants to dialogue with themselves.”

    “Who is Mr. Ballantyne Agiri the claimed dialogue group spokesman? We don’t know you. And please stop fooling the general public.

    “We are not ready for any negotiation or dialogue with the federal government,” the group claimed.

  • FG tasks UNESCO on teacher education

    FG tasks UNESCO on teacher education

    The Federal Government on Thursday called on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include the development of teacher education among its programmes to be undertaken in the country.

    The Minister of Education,  Adamu Adamu, made the call in Abuja while receiving the UNESCO Director – General, Ms Irina Bokova, who is on a three day official visit to Nigeria.

    The minister, who appreciated the impact of UNESCO especially in the areas of mass literacy and vitalization of Nigerian youths, pledged the government’s commitment towards deepening the existing relationship with the organization in its areas of engagements.

    Adamu said: “We appreciate what UNESCO has been doing since you became director general. We are very happy with UNESCO and I will like to assure you of the commitment of the federal government.

    “We will like to appreciate what you have been doing especially in all the areas that you are engaged in vitalizing the youths, adult education and mass literacy.

    “The teacher development programme is particular to us because from the ministry here we now have an action plan. The teachers’ development is one of the strongest. So I hope the new engagement we are going to get with the UNESCO will include development of teacher education.”

  • HND, B.Sc dichotomy will soon be over – FG

    •KADPOLY convocates 67,403 graduands

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, yesterday disclosed that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing everything possible to end the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and the Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc) holders.

    Speaking as the Visitor to the 32nd combined convocation and diamond jubilee celebrations of Kaduna Polytechnic, the minister said, “the present administration is much aware of the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and the Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc) holders and has taken all necessary steps toward bringing an end to the issue.”

    He, however, appealed to the staff unions of polytechnics to be patient with the present government as efforts are being made to address all their demands within available resources.

    While appreciating the government and good people of Kaduna State for their immense contribution to the growth and development of education in the country, he noted that good education is a veritable tool for the growth and development of any nation.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary,  National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Masa’udu Adamu Kazaure, the minister charged the management of Kaduna Polytechnic to build on their achievements to ensure that the institution maintains her pride of place in the hallmark of fame for outstanding institutions in the country.

    While felicitating with the graduands, he challenged the alumni of the polytechnic to contribute to the speedy attainment of the technological development of the country by initiating meaningful projects on campus as a way of fast tracking the growth and development of their alma-mater.

    In his address, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, corroborated the minister’s position and reiterated that “no meaningful development can be achieved without a sound education.”

    The governor therefore called on the graduands to be ambassadors of Kaduna Polytechnic wherever they are found and in all their endeavours.

    On his part, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, in his address, informed that the polytechnic was convocating 10 sets of 67,403 graduands from 2004 academic year to 2014/2015 academic year.

    He equally informed that the institution was celebrating its 60th anniversary of establishment.

    Highlight of the convocation was the Fellowship awards to selected personalities and to graduands who emerged over all best for the various years.

  • FG to extend defence equipment procurement audit to 2007

    FG to extend defence equipment procurement audit to 2007

    The Federal Government has hinted that there will be more report on the Audit of Defence equipment procurements in the armed forces between 2007 and 2015.

    In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said what has been released so far is the report of the audit covering the period between 2011 and 2015.

    He added that the committee would commence the audit of defence equipment procurements between 2007 and 2010 as soon as the necessary documents are available.

    He therefore denied the insinuation that the recently released report was doctored.

    He said: ”When the documents regarding procurement from 2007 to 2010 are available and scrutinised, the committee will then issue its report on that.

    “The audit is being done in phases, and the report that was released on Thursday is the third of such.”

    He also assured that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight is non-discriminatory, and called on Nigerians to keep an open mind as events unfold.

    ”No one should attempt to distract from the seriousness of the issues involved in this audit of defence equipment procurement.

    “It is important to note that even though the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period were N185,843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49, the irregularities in the awards ensured that the military did not get value for money, with very serious consequences,” the Minister said.

  • African Foods: New pilot initiative in Kaduna to boost inclusive growth

    African Foods: New pilot initiative in Kaduna to boost inclusive growth

    • United Nations SDG Fund, FG, Kaduna Government, chefs Roca Brothers and Sahara Group launch a joint platform to create jobs, promote gender equality and reduce food waste

    As Nigeria embraces a challenging economic diversification process, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) is working in Kaduna to pilot an innovative approach aimed at revamping the food sector to creating new jobs for young people, increase farmers’ revenues, improve productivity, enhance nutrition and reduce food loss through more sustainable production practices.

    To achieve this, the UN Goodwill Ambassadors, brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca of restaurant El Celler can Roca, ranked among the best chefs of the world, UN Agencies, the Sahara Group and Nigerian government authorities will partner on the Food Africa project. Launched in Jere, the initiative is set to revolutionize the food industry in Kaduna and beyond.

    For the project kick-off Josep Roca met with young women and men that will be the driving force of this programme. A Center of Excellence, specialized on agriculture and agro-processing training, will contribute to expand it to other regions in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa through regional exchange of best practices.

    Food for SDGs

    Nigeria has been an avid proponent and early adopter of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were approved at the United Nations in September. Under the leadership of Princess Victoria Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, plans and policies are now underway to achieve these goals by 2030.

    In Africa, agriculture remains a vital source of employment and income generation. In Nigeria the sector contributes to an estimated 70% of employment in Nigeria, but only 22% of GDP, thus indicating a significant potential for productivity gains. Despite a strong reliance on farming and agriculture, malnutrition is often prevalent in many regions and invariably an estimated 50-70% of   harvests can be lost due to the lack of appropriate storage facilities and limited market information.

    On top of that, climate-change, could result in falls in output of up to 30%, according to the World Bank estimates. The recent state of emergency declared in Kaduna over tomato shortages and soaring prices caused by the moth tuta absoluta exemplifies climate and environmental pressures to agricultural production to come.

    Revolutionizing the food industry

    In order to tackle these pressing challenges, the SDG Fund, a mechanism established by the UN to advance the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is engaging governments, UN Agencies, civil society and the private sector on issues critical to enhancing food security and nutrition.

    The pilot Food Africa project in Kaduna will provide a backward and forward integration approach for food supply chain management. The program will introduce more sustainable practices in the value chain, reduce crop waste and improve smallholder farmers’ profitability. Recognizing the link between the gaps in skills and structural unemployment in the region, the project will promote income generating opportunities and technical support to promote trade of local goods and services.

    The program will feature an agro processing facility and serve as a Center of Excellence to increase farmers’ receipts and reduce food loss. The center will provide training in the food industry on issues linked to food safety, business planning and product diversification. Designed as a hybrid public-private facility, the program will eventually be sustained and managed by the communities local farmers.

    Unique collaboration

    UN Goodwill Ambassadors Master Chefs Roca Brothers will contribute their valuable knowledge in sustainable conservation, food preparation and distribution techniques. The Rocas will provide skills training for young women and men as well as providing technical oversight and sharing best practices. The renowned chefs will play a key role in showcasing how local food production can be cultivated for new markets and consumers. “It is an honor for us to be part of this vibrant, promising and collective project and contribute with our cooking, our imagination and our passion to advance the sustainable development goals”, Josep Roca affirmed while in Jere. He added “we are doing this on behalf of all chefs, not only ourselves”.

    Several specialized UN Agencies will provide expertise on food production (FAO), labour and employment (ILO) and international trade (ITC). An early warning Geographical Information System (GIS) will also be available to connect farmers with agricultural extension services and provide real time market data.

    Sahara Group, a leading African energy conglomerate and member of the SDG Fund Private Sector Advisory Group and major co-financier of the project will bring its business perspective to the program to ensure the viability of the facility’s operations. “We are excited to showcase this new project which will go a long way to shine the spotlight on the links between agricultural training, food security and improving nutritional livelihoods in our communities” said Tonye Cole, Executive Director and co-founder of the Sahara Group.

    Kaduna State Government will provide the land for the constructed facility as well as farmland and personnel. The state government will collaborate with other state-level stakeholders to improve local infrastructure including rural roads to allow greater access to the facility and farmland.

    It is expected that 5,000 women and men of Kaduna will be directly impacted with new job prospects, increased income and additional skills to compete in the thriving food industry. In addition, an estimated 500,000 residents will indirectly benefit from the Food Africa Project which is designed to be scaled-up in the region and eventually replicated in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • FG begs striking workers

    FG begs striking workers

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has called on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) workers to call off its industrial action in the interest of the nation.

    A statement signed by the Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, Samuel Olowokore, quotes the minister as saying that strikes neither solve industrial disputes nor contribute to the industrial growth of any society.

    The oil workers have been on strike since Thursday over what they termed unresolved issues, while a meeting between the workers and government representatives failed to hold on Friday as the union stayed away, saying the date was not convenient for them.

    According to the statement, “strike neither solves industrial disputes nor contributes to industrial growth.

    “Our economy is already reeling from severe hemorrhage occasioned by decade-long mismanagement.

    “Further action, which stunts the efforts currently being made to reverse the trend, should therefore be shunned.

    “A situation where oil workers leave their offices and oil loading base will not make for an increase in oil export or assist to make available enough petroleum products in this time of deregulation.

    “This will only compound the vandalisation in the Niger Delta, occasioning low output and export in our OPEC quota, apart from the unwarranted hardship on the populace.

    “The time therefore calls for more patriotism, more so when negotiations have already been kick started with PENGASSAN and International Oil Companies (IOCs) on most of the areas, especially the issue of cash calls and arbitrary sack of personnel.

     ”The Federal Government therefore urges PENGASSAN to urgently call off the strike so that all sides will freely negotiate. I am very optimistic that when we sit for negotiation on Monday, July 11, issues that have led to the situation on the ground will be resolved in the greater interest of the nation.”

  • FG declares nutritional emergency in Borno

    FG declares nutritional emergency in Borno

    To meet the welfare needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in camps in the Northeast, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has declared a nutritional emergency in Borno State.

    The move is to mobilise a rapid response team to coordinate efforts to ameliorate the worsening situation in the camps.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, as the Presidency sent a delegation to asses situation in IDP camps in Bama, Borno State.

    The delegation, which included senior officials of the Borno State Government, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency,  the State Emergency Management Agency, and representatives from the United Nations, was taken round the camp by the Brigade Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade, Bama, Colonel Adamu Garba Laka, which is home to 25,000 adults and children.

    The commander highlighted the challenges faced by the camp, including shortages of medical personnel, shelter, water and sanitation facilities.

    The delegation led by the Presidential Special Adviser on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, restated government’s firm commitment to bringing relief to the thousands of recently rescued Boko Haram captives currently hosted in the IDP camp in Bama, Borno State.

    “We’re here to see for ourselves the situation on the ground here,” she said.

    She commended the military for their gallantry and dedication to securing and caring for the displaced persons.

     Noting that it was a crisis situation, she assured that the federal government would work with the state government, international community, local partners and civil society groups to ensure that all the needs of the inhabitants of Bama camp, and the several others like it, are speedily met.

     Speaking during the visit, the Borno State Health Commissioner, Dr Haruna Mshelia, said that 1,800 of the most vulnerable persons in the camp had been relocated to Maiduguri for medical attention and specialised feeding, and that the relocation is still ongoing.

    He said that a permanent health team had been working in the camp since May 2016, and that the existing team still required a lot of support.

     The Senior Special Assistant to the President on IDPs, Dr Mariam Masha, assured that, alongside the humanitarian work, the federal and state governments are also focusing on the longer-term work of ensuring that the reconstruction and resettlement is effectively hastened to enable the IDPs return to their homes and communities, in order to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

  • How quality of education can improve – ASUU

    How quality of education can improve – ASUU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said the quality of tertiary education in the country could improve if the institutions are allowed to regulate their students’ admission process.

    The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that if that was done, the quality of education would improve.

    Oguyemi spoke against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s decision to come up with a uniform guideline for admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Minster of Education, Adamu Adamu, had at a recent joint policy meeting to decide the cut off mark for students seeking admission into the universities, announced the scrapping of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The Post UTME is the second stage of screening usually conducted by universities for the final selection of candidates into the institutions.

    Adamu had said in a statement that he would sanction any university or tertiary institution found conducting examinations under any guise to admit students.

    He further directed tertiary institutions that had collected money from candidates for such purposes to immediately refund it or face appropriate sanctions.

    The minister said if any tertiary institution had already conducted any form of examination, such an exercise stood annulled.

    The ASUU chief told NAN that such directive encroached on the autonomy of the institutions.

    “I think government should give these institutions the chance to regulate themselves.

    “They should decide for themselves, the process they dim fit to admit their students.

    “The Senate of universities for example, should decide on the process they want to use in selecting candidates.

    “We do not think it’s right for government to decide the method of screening of the candidates, indeed, we want to attain some level of sanity and quality in the system,’’ he said.

     

  • FG to restructure N3bn Nollywood grant

    FG to restructure N3bn Nollywood grant

    The N3billion Federal Government’s grant for the Nigerian Film industry known as Nollywood is being restructured to make it serve the purpose for which it was created,the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.

    A talk shop to work out the strategy is scheduled for July 1,the ministry said in a statement.

     Expected at the workshop are key stakeholders in the industry, including  the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the leadership of Nollywood, the Actors Guild, Film and Videos Censors Board, the Nigerian Film Corporation and the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

     Finance  Minister  Kemi Adeosun who is convening the workshop explained that  ideas generated  during the workshop would form the basis  for reinvigorating  the Project ACT Nollywood and ensuring  its sustainability.

     To date, the Project ACT Nollywood has implemented specialist training programmes in Nigeria and abroad in which 247 practitioners have been trained to improve their technical and professional capacities in the entertainment industry.

     Similarly, 113 film projects, employing 2,436 people, have been co-financed through grants from the fund at a cost of N799 million, while the Innovative Film Distribution Programme has been designed to support viable solutions in film distribution.

  • FG, medical lab union disagree on pending issues

    FG, medical lab union disagree on pending issues

    Activities in Federal Health institutions in the country may be disrupted for the next seven days following a disagreement between the Federal Government and the Joint Health Workers Union over pending issues.

    JOHESU has already called out its members for a seven day warning strike, in defiant to the government sack order issued on Tuesday.

    The union explained that the warning strike became necessary, following the attitude of the government over pending issues.

    Both parties could not reach a compromise at the rescheduled meeting held on Tuesday, where according to the union, government disregarded all previous agreement reached with the union.

    Consequently, in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting with the Federal Government, the union stated that having consulted widely with members nationwide and having shown consistent understanding since February 2015, hereby directs that all members in Federal Tertiary Health Institutions should proceed on a 7-day WARNING STRIKE from12:01am of Wednesday 22nd June, 2016

    The Union also noted that it was not afraid of the sack order issued on Tuesday, as they are not students but employees of the government. Moreover, JOHESU argued that as a registered trade union, it followed the due process before declaring the warning strike including suspending strike action for 92 days.

    The communiqué reads: “Following repeated ultimatums totaling 92 days issued to the Federal  Government by JOHESU, a meeting was called for Monday 20th June, 2016 at the instance of the Federal Government at the Conference room of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment with a view to resolving the issues in dispute.

    “However, the Federal Government was not prepared for the meeting and therefore pleaded that the meeting be shifted to Tuesday 21st June, 2016 at 9.00am.

    “At the rescheduled meeting of Tuesday 21st June, 2016, it was observed that despite the series  of meetings earlier held with committees and sub-committees set up to look unto the various issues presented by JOHESU and agreements reached, to our utmost surprise the Federal Government asserted that there was no agreement on the issues upon which erstwhile Secretary to the Federal Government set up a sub-committee, the report of which was accepted by the Federal Government and another sub-committee set up to work out the financial implication to be submitted to the Federal Government for approval.

    “Other issues upon which previous submissions had been made were equally pushed to the unions to make fresh submission showing lack of seriousness on the part of the Federal Government.

    “Having consulted widely with members nationwide and having shown consistent understanding since February 2015, the leadership of JOHESU hereby directs that all members in Federal Tertiary Health Institutions should proceed on a 7-day WARNING STRIKE from 12:01am of Wednesday 22nd June, 2016.

    “We hereby appeal to the general public to please bear with us and impress it on the Federal Government to meet the demands of the unions to prevent the warning strike from becoming a full blown indefinite strike.”