The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FG

  • Police arraigns alleged fake doctor employed by FG

    Police arraigns alleged fake doctor employed by FG

    The police Tuesday arraigned ‎ before a Federal High Court in Abuja, a 44-year old man, Martins Ugwu Okpe, who allegedly cloned his friend’s credentials, with which he gained employment as a medical expert for about nine years with the Federal Ministry of Health.

    Okpe was accused of stealing certificates ‎of exemption of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level), all belonging to Daniel Davidson George.

    He was accused, in a five-count charge brought against him, of claiming ownership of the certificates ‎and tendered them before the Federal Civil Service Commission in Ebonyi State upon which he was offered a temporary letter of appointment dated August 30, 2006. He was arrested last June.

    A recent verification exercise of professional skills of residence doctors, conducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on June 4, 2015 allegedly revealed the accused person’s true identity.

    Okpe was said to have risen to become the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the Federal Ministry of Health Abuja chapter.

    Count one of the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/296/2015 reads, “That you Martins Ugwu Okpe, male, aged 44 years, of the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on or about March 13, 2006 at unspecified hour in Karu Abuja of the Abuja Division committed stealing; and did steal Certificate of Bachelor of Medicine of Surgery and National Youth Service Corps certificate of exemption dated February 8, 2005 with serial number 000027400 all property of Mr. Daniel Davidson George, being the certificate awarded to him by Academic’s Senate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State dated August 29, 2002 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 of the Criminal Code Law.”

    According to the charge, Okpe’s alleged offences are contrary to sections 383 and 486 of the Criminal Code law and punishable under sections 390 and 467 of the same law.

    Okpe, of average height, was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt embossed with the sign: “Africa against Ebola,” produced by the Federal Ministry of Health’s ad hoc committee on Ebola Virus Disease, where he served during the outbreak of the disease in the country last year.

    Okpe pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which Justice Gabriel Kolawole grant the accused person bail in terms and conditions agreed upon by both the prosecution and defence lawyers, Malik Taiwo and O. O. Otemu.

    Taiwo, who had filed a counter-affidavit to Okpe’s bail application, withdrew it in court on Tuesday.

    Justice Kolawole granted bail to the accused in the sum of N1m with two sureties in the same amount.

    The judge said the sureties, who should be in the employment of either the federal or state, must be not less than Grade Level 12. The court ordered that he should be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja pending when he is able to meet the bail conditions.

  • FG to reorganize NTDC

    FG to reorganize NTDC

    As the Buhari administration seeks alternatives to oil, there were indications yesterday that the Presidency may reorganize the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

    It was learnt that the fate of the Director-General of the NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, was unknown at press time.

    Investigation revealed that the government was disturbed that nations, like Kenya, Ethiopia, Gambia, Zimbabwe and others had been making progress in tourism while Nigeria is lagging behind.

    It was also learnt that the slump in NTDC activities in the past few years has affected the image of the country.

    The turning of NTDC into a shuttle agency for many unnecessary trips abroad has made Presidency to be under pressure to reorganize NTDC.

    A top source said: “The new government is really searching for alternatives to oil. Beside agriculture, the presidency has placed premium on tourism.

    “Certainly, there will be a surgical reorganization of NTDC with expanded scope to fit into the new revenue goal.

    “This will require a thorough cleansing of the corporation.”

    The crisis of confidence between the immediate past Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke and the DG of NTDC was said to have “wiped off” the few gains made by Nigeria in the sector in the past few years.

    Duke had queried the DG ,saying in part: “It has been brought to my notice that your conduct in the last few months is unsatisfactory in the following respect:  (1) As with your previous overseas travels, you attended the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) held in Madrid, Spain from 22nd-26th January 2014 without obtaining the Minister’s prior approval for your participation nor for the budget to cover the event as specified in the guidelines and procedures for attending such international events.

    “That you embarrassed the Ministry and brought the nation into disrepute by pulling out of the Trade Fair midway without any cogent reason nor did you proffer any official explanation.

    “Equally inimical to the image of the service and the nation, is that you pulled out of the ITB Berlin UNWTO Global Marketing event held in Berlin, Germany in March 2014, without the knowledge and approval of the Minister and to the consternation of Tourism Stakeholders who were in attendance

    “That in anticipation of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, you engaged the services of contractors to develop market and execute the Nigeria Fans Village in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In furtherance to this, it is alleged that you obtained funds from some banks and corporate organizations to fund this project.

    “However a dispute arose between you and your agents in Brazil that led to a physical encounter arising from a breach of contract an attempt by you to rather have the Nigerian Fans Village in hotel room

    “That neither the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil nor the Nigerian Consulate in Sao Paulo had any knowledge of this project.

    “It is also observed that since your assumption of office, there have been series of threats of industrial unrest in your corporation, internal wrangling with complaints about your leadership style, inefficiency and lack of cordial human relationship with your workforce.”

     

  • FG restate commitment to partner with private sector on education

    The Head of Research of National Educational Research and Development Commission, Mr. Garba Gandu, has restated Federal Government’s commitment towards partnering with non-state innovators to ensure that Nigeria children have access to meaningful learning opportunities.

    Gardu made this known at the Nigeria Education Innovation Summit (NEDIS) organised by the Educational Partnership Center (TEP Centre) in conjunction with Center for Education Innovations and held at the Africa Sun, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Gandu said the need for new insight, innovation and creativity in the formation and implementation of national curriculum is very apt, and can be achieved through transparent public and private partnership that priortise children interest.

    The Founder, LEAP Africa, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, noted that research is imperative in thinking about how much the public and private sectors can collaborate to scale promising innovations and exhorted implementations of the models to ensure that they have sufficient capacity to implement and scale their initiative.

    In her words, the Representative from Leading Learning, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo emphasised the need for education stakeholders to put the child first and to consider ways by which emerging innovations focus on effectively strengthening teaching and learning.

    Earlier, in her opening speech, the Managing Director of TEP, Mrs. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, said from evidence available, it is clear that the general quality of learning as measured by pupils achievement and teacher competence is perversely low in Nigeria.

    She said: “Nigeria currently accounts for close to a fifth of the estimated 60 million out-of-school children globally-10.5 million Nigerian children are not yet enrolled  according to statistics by the British Council”.

    Olateju said one of the key challenges to attaining goals of access, quality and equity in education is the limited participation of the non-state sector in the funding, provision and management of education.

    The programme tagged strengthening the design Implementation and Impact of Education Innovation in Nigeria brought together 50 experts drawn from government agencies, research institution, civil society groups, donor agencies and media.

    Participants at the summit included representatives of government institutions such as NERDC,  and the Universal Basic Education Board, (UBEC). Other participants were: United State Aid for International Development, Ford Foundation, TY Dajuma Foundation, British Council, LEAP AFRICA, Ashoka Changemakers and CEI East Africa, among others.

  • FG urged to make skills acquisition compulsory for NYSC members

    FG urged to make skills acquisition compulsory for NYSC members

    Mrs Pamela Latunji-Bello, the Chief Executive Officer, Spectrum Beauty Academy, Lagos, on Saturday called on the government to make vocational skills acquisition compulsory under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    Latunji-Bello told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that vocational training would equip young graduates to be self- employed instead of depending on elusive white-collar jobs.

    “If the Federal Government should use part of the money paid to NYSC members in training them in the various vocations, it will go a long way in reducing unemployment in the country.

    “Skills acquisition should be mandatory for NYSC members during the one year service; they must learn a trade or the other and use their monthly stipends as training fee.

    “Because the vocations are where the money is,’’ she said.

    The entrepreneur stressed the need for compulsory capacity building for NYSC members “The future of Nigeria lies in the skills of its workforce. “If we do not train them, we are just giving money to people who will probably misuse it.’’

    Latunji-Bello urged the nation’s policy makers to place more emphasis skills acquisition at all levels of the nation’s educational system.

    “Let people stop seeing it as the pet project of wives of state governors that should be done at their spare time.

    “It should be re-integrated into the school curriculum, every university should give it a push. “Every Nigerian graduate should start thinking of having another profession or career,’’ she said.

  • Airline operators calls for reduction in operation cost

    Airline operators calls for reduction in operation cost

    Airline Operators Association of Nigeria (AOAN) has called on the Federal Government to review the charges paid by its members in order to reduce their high cost of operation.

    Mr Mohammed Joji, General Secretary of the association, told the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Abuja that high operating cost was a challenge facing the aviation industry in Nigeria.

    Joji stated that airline operators in the country were burdened with multiple charges, which included five per cent ticket sale charge, landing and parking charge as well as passenger service charge and en-route navigational charge.

    According to him, aside the charges mentioned, airlines are also subjected to paying Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and this is abnormal.

    “The issue of multiple charges is a major challenge facing local airline operators, because the charges are so numerous and have significantly affected airlines’ operations.

    “For instance, we pay five per cent charge for passenger’s ticket, which is a compulsory payment for every operator.

    “For the operators to survive in the business, there is the need for the government to harmonise some of these charges in the overall interest of the sector.

    “The charges are not good for the industry as a whole, and we urge the government to find ways of addressing this issue which has become a major challenge to us,’’ he said.

    Joji said that another challenge of the industry was the high cost of aviation fuel (JET-A1), which is currently being sold at between N160 per litre and N170 per litre.

    He added that the aviation fuel, whose price was usually cheaper than the prices of petrol and diesel, was hitherto sold at N40 per litre.

    According to him, the marketers have taken advantage of the deregulation of the downstream sector to reap additional proceeds, which is illegal and immoral.

    The general secretary called on the government to develop policy to stabilise aviation fuel supply and pricing, which had been of serious concern to both operators and stakeholders.

    He also disclosed that foreign exchange issue was another challenge be-devilling the growth of the sector, adding that every part of an aircraft, including nuts, bolts and screws, were imported.

  • Ayade slams UN, FG for ceding Bakassi

    Ayade slams UN, FG for ceding Bakassi

    • No amount of dollars can assuage us, says Gov

    Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade on Friday chided the United Nations and the Federal Government for ceding the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon without seeking the consent of the people through a plebiscite.

    Ayade, who stated this while receiving the Country Representative of United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana, in his office in Calabar, said the people of the state were still angry over the ceding of the peninsular.

    He said the ceding of the peninsular was done without a plebiscite, thus unjustly depriving the people of their ancestral home and turning them into refugees in their own land.

    The governor, who struggled with his emotions, said: “Your Commission is undertaking a worthy and noble cause. I thank you for your humanitarian assistance and expression of emotion, but the people are angry in the way and manner they have been treated. They have been deprived of their heritage and livelihood.”

    Speaking further, the governor said: “The people of Bakassi were not given the opportunity to choose where they would want to belong and I am telling the UN that this is an unsettled issue and no amount of dollars can settle the issue.

    “ The people have now been split between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, as well as Nigeria and Cameroon. As the agony of the people continues, their plight cannot be wiped away by dollars.

    “Take it that the people feel very disturbed and unhappy, and if this had happened in any other part of the world, there would have been war today. This is totally unacceptable and is not done in the modern society. Today, Cross River is traversed by internally displaced persons, who are refugees in their own state.”

    Continuing, the governor said. “the displaced people of Bakassi are suffering and if United Nations had anything in mind, it should have started from there and if anything needed to be treated as an emergency, it is the Bakassi, because the people live in such sub-human condition. The state will work hard to strengthen things and we will partner the commission to achieve its aims.”

    Earlier, Angele Dikongue Atangana, commended the state for accommodating refugees from Cameroon, and said the commission was touched by the plight of the displaced persons of Bakassi, adding that while everything is being done to ensure the resettling of the Cameroonians in their country of origin, the commission would collaborate with the state to make life comfortable for the people of Bakassi who are internally displaced in the state.

    Atangana explained that the commission spent about $200,000 in the first half of 2013, adding that it has worked out modalities to introduce vocational training for the people with the assistance of development partners as a means of giving them a sense of livelihood, saying that they should not be seen as stateless people but be recognized as citizens or nationals of Nigeria who are rightly settled in their motherland.

  • Sallah: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

    Sallah: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

    The Federal Government on Tuesday declared Friday, July 17 and Monday, July 20 as public holidays to the mark the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, who announced this in Abuja, enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which include love, peace and sacrifice for the development of the nation.

    He also urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination and sustained efforts to build a peaceful, united and virile nation.

    The permanent secretary appealed to all Nigerians, both at home and abroad, to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the nation.

     

     

  • CAN protests Boko Haram suspects’ relocation to Anambra

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State Chapter, on Monday protested the relocation of Boko Haram inmates to Ekwulobia prisons in the state by the Federal Government.

    They said that situation has created panic in the state, while the residents have started relocating to other communities for safety.

    The protesting CAN members included the Archbishop of the Diocese on the Niger and Dean Anglican Communion, Most Rev Christian Efobi, Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alex Ibezim, Bishop of the Niger West, Most Rev Johnson Ekwe and Bishop Samuel Ezeofor of Ogbaru Diocese, among others.

    Also, the youth, Christian women organization under the aegis of (WOWICAN) carried placards with different inscriptions denouncing the relocation of Boko – Haram inmates to the state.

    Some of the placards read, “We have not slept since the ugly situation in Ekwulobia,” “Anambra CAN say no to Boko-Haram,” and “WOWICAN rejects Boko-Haram,” among others.

     

  • Borno residents caution FG against dialogue with Boko Haram

    Borno residents caution FG against dialogue with Boko Haram

    Some residents of Borno on Monday cautioned the Federal Government against rushing into dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents as a way of ending their violent campaign.

    Those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Monday advised government to concentrate on military action against the insurgents.

    Shieikh Musa Usman, a Maiduguri based Islamic scholar, advised government to equip the military with the necessary weapons to face the insurgents rather than considering dialogue option.

    “We heard in the media that government was considering a dialogue option with the insurgents following the recent spate of attacks in the North east.

    “Why should government dialogue with individuals who are only interested in killing and maiming innocent people?

    “Is government saying that it cannot continue with the current anti insurgency war or what?

    “Why must we be talking about dialogue when our neighbours are already dislodging the insurgents from their countries?” Usman retorted.

    Usman urged government to copy from the recent actions of the Chadian and Nigerien Governments in dislodging the insurgents from their countries.

    Malam Goni Yahuza, another scholar said that negotiating with the insurgents was a sign of weakness.

    “I do not support the idea of dialogue with Boko Haram because there is nothing to dialogue about.

    “In the first place, I do not think that the group has something to talk about apart from violence”, Yahuza said.

    He added that government must deploy all resources available in ending the insurgency within a reasonable time.

    “I believe that the Nigerian military has all its takes to crush the insurgents, what they need is proper motivation for the task.

    “Government must strive hard to ensure that it puts an end to the insurgency in a short while,” Yahuza said.

    Alhaji Mohammed Mala, a businessman, commended the gallant efforts of the Nigeria military in fighting insurgents and urged them to do more.

  • ‘FG should protect us from Wike’s onslaught’

    ‘FG should protect us from Wike’s onslaught’

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Evangelist Caroline Nagbo speaks with JOHN OFIKHENUA about what she calls the persecution of the party’s members under the guise of recovering  government property. She urges the Federal Government to halt their victimisation in the Southsouth state.

    Why has peace eluded Rivers State after the general elections?

    The elections are over, yet the fire in Rivers State continues. It all shows that, when people are not duly elected into office, they become very reactionary to divert public attention from their own inadequacies. So, the animosity in Rivers State is because there was no election. And so, there was no plan or there is no plan by the PDP for governance. And that is why, right from the inauguration till now, Rivers people have not been given any roadmap of development by the PDP government. Rather, what we see is acute persecution of APC members in Rivers State by the PDP government of Nyesom Wike.

    Is it not an aberration for anyone to go after his/her opponents when they have a case in court ?

    The case is at the tribunal and the processes are on, but there will be  lawlessness when people are unlawfully  brought into power. The lawlessness continues. And that is what you are seeing in Rivers State.  It is a state of anomie.

    There is a constant search for government vehicles and other items and thugs and security operatives burgle APC members’ houses. Is the search still on?

    One thing that Nyesom Wike-led government in Rivers State is  yet to tell us is whether the recovery of government vehicles or used vehicles was one of his campaign promises. It was not part of his campaign promises. So, why is he making it  a mandate or a campaign promise he made to Rivers people? That is not the problem of Rivers State right now. So, if he does not have a roadmap of development, he does not have a blueprint, he should come out openly because we are tired of the airwaves. We are tired of the noise in our eardrums concerning used vehicles, and the persecution of APC stakeholders in Rivers State. This is not the best way to play opposition. He is reacting to the fact that he never knew that APC was going to be the national party of Nigeria.

    What is your appeal to the Federal Government, the security forces, and the APC leadership?

    I am appealing to the Federal Government to look into the issues of Rivers State to protect the citizens of Rivers State, especially the APC members. During the election, we lost many youths; vibrant men and women were gunned down for the sake of the PDP and their quest for power in Rivers State. We buried a lot and many of them are still in the mortuary. Now, he has gotten the power.Why is he still coming after APC members? Is it that he wants to eliminate all of us ? Is that his own idea of playing opposition? We were in opposition before and we never went after him. And that was why he could do his electioneering campaign unmolested. So,  why is he molesting APC men and women in Rivers State and using the diversionary issue  of recovery of government properties? All what belongs to him and his PDP stalwarts, are they not also from government ? He was a minister. Did he return all the cars he used to the Federal Ministry of Education ? So, we are asking that Nyesome Wike should leave APC members alone, and I as the state woman leader, the deputy governor designate, that woman there should advise him to leave APC people in Rivers State alone.

    Have you written a letter to the police on the matter ?

    The party has written to the police. The party has followed the due process. Right now, our lives are being threatened and he is using the cover and falsehood of recovery government property. He talks about probing. We are not afraid of probing. But, the probe must be all-inclusive. It must not be a selective probing. But, he should allow the APC in Rivers State to function because we allowed the PDP to function when we were in government house.

    With this alleged abuse of power, do you see anything good coming from Wike’s government?

    Your guess is as good as mine.  That is my response.

     How do you hope to bring your members together and forge ahead, despite the defeat and the persecution by the state government?

    I want to bring your attention to the fact that the APC controls 22 of the LGAs in Rivers State as we speak, from counsellor to local government chairmen. So, nobody will tell us that we are not on ground. We control the grassroots in Rivers State as we speak. Even, as we are speaking, the local government councils are yet to be funded . In spite of the fact that the governor has come to Abuja for the meeting, he is yet to append his signature to call the FAAC meeting. He has refused to call the FAAC meeting in Rivers State as we speak . Meanwhile, the PDP refused to part take in the local government elections. All other political parties did. He thought these councils will never stay. He thought when he comes in, he would have the power to nullify the election and send them packing. Now that he has discovered that it is not possible, he has refused to call the FAAC meeting. The APC is on ground in Rivers State. We may not be in the secretariat, or in Government House, but in all the LGAs, we are there.

    So, how is he allocating funds to the LGAs ?

    He has not allocated any fund. He has refused to call them (the local government chairmen) for a meeting.

    His he disbanding the councils?

    He tried to disband the councils, but there is a court injunction on him as I speak not to disband the councils.  And that is why he is also reacting by ensuring that he does not call the FAAC meeting.

    So, how are they coping?

    That is the situation in Rivers State. There is no money in the council because he thinks by starving them of funds, he will be able to frustrate them.

    Are the chairmen and councillors yielding to the oppression?

    They are duly elected councilors and local government chairmen statutorily elected for the next three years. So, they cannot yield.

    Do you see the APC collapsing into the PDP because of the fear of intimidation?

    You should have put the question the other way. The PDP is a party that is going to collapse into the APC completely in Rivers State.

    How do you mean?

    Because they know that they are swimming against the tide. Also, we have a very good case at the tribunal. And we are hopeful that the tribunal will give us justice in Rivers State. So, PDP is a party that is actually going to collapse into the APC a few months from now.

    Do you think that the governor has the acumen to take the state to prosperity?

    I don’t discuss persons. I discuss ideas and that is why I am asking him to give us the roadmap of development. And he should play the politics of development, not the politics of persecution of APC members in Rivers State.

    A few days ago, Wike recognised Celestine Omehia as a former governor of Rivers State, despite the court judgment that sacked him from office…   

    He is recognising a fellow party member. Omehia is a PDP man. And if he comes out to recognise a PDP man, I have no comment on that. I think it is more of party affairs. But the question I still ask is, is that was a campaign promise when he was campaigning? To recognise the unrecognisable?  So, you can see he is entirely diversionary. He should face the main  problems of Rivers State. If the problems are so daunting that he cannot face it, then, he should come out to say that he does not have the wherewithal for governance in that state and step aside for the APC led-government. We have our roadmap of development for Rivers State. We are highly organised as a party. And we have the fear of God. We have God fearing leaders. So he should not divert public attention by going after individuals. He should not play the politics of personality. He should play the politics of ideas and development.