The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • Improve workers’ welfare, govt urged

    Improve workers’ welfare, govt urged

    Union leaders have urged the Federal Government to give priority to workers welfare.

    The unionists, who spoke with The Nation, noted that workers’ welfare was poor across the country.

    The President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, urged the three tiers of government to take necessary measures to improve workers’ welfare.

    According to him, some state governments are owing workers 10 months’ salaries. “I urge government to step in and address our immediate problem, which is the inability of government to pay workers’ salaries as and  when due,” he said, noting that government has failed in the payment of workers’ salaries, particularly the local governments.

    Describing it as a serious challenge, Khaleel said the president needed to make good the promise he made when he was sworn in last year. “I recall he promised to address issues in the local governments to make them more functional,” he said.

    He urged workers to seek effective ways of ensuring service delivery across the county to create more wealth.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT chapter, Mr.  Amaechi Lawrence, decried the high cost of living in the territory and urged the FCT Minister to look into it and provide more affordable houses for civil and public servants.

    He also urged the government to build more roads to reduce the traffic on the Nyanya-Mararaba Road.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Mr. John Gabriel, said government should look into the issue of fuel scarcity and put an end to it.

    “We want Nigeria to be a better place; there is also no fuel intermittently; so the prices of things are jacked up, even the cost of maintaining one’s car becomes higher.

    “For this reason, many people park their cars at home, leaving our members with no job and no money to take home for our families,’’ Gabriel said.

    The Chairman, National Union of Hotels and Personal Service Workers, Mr Jankat Pius, urged the Federal Government to immediately start implementing the 2016 budget, noting that the late-passage of the budget is already affecting Nigerians negatively.

    “There is no money in circulation and everything is hard in the country; I know good things don’t come easy but I believe government can do something to make the life of the people better,’’ Pius said.

  • Release of cash for projects begins today, says govt

    Release of cash for projects begins today, says govt

    • Minister explains budget plans

    • No VAT increase

    The Federal Government will begin the implementation of the 2016 budget today with the part disbursement of approved funds for some items in the budget.

    Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the breakdown of the 2016 budget, said funding for some of the items in the budget will be released today.

    Udo-Udoma rated budget 2015 performance as poor, stating that “the capital spending was lower than budgeted due to funding challenges. In any case if all the funds allocated for capital projects was released, it would not have made a major impact because the percentage of the 2015 budget allocated to capital was only about 11per cent, this may partly explain why the performance of the economy in 2015 was so poor,” he stated.

    For 2016, Udoma said the budget is anchored on six pillars of economic reforms, infrastructure, social development, governance and security, environment as well as states/regional development.

    He said the key objectives of the budget are ensuring a stable macro-economic environment for real sector development; investments in critical infrastructure, science, technology and innovations that will enhance productivity and lower costs of doing business. Others are creating a significant number of jobs to reduce unemployment and underemployment especially among the youth; protecting the poor and vulnerable by special intervention programmes  and building an economy that is less vulnerable to oil price shocks by vigorously pursuing diversification.

    Budget 2016 he explained would rely on non-oil revenue for funding stressing that “the 2016 budget envisages a net distributable revenue of N5.72 trillion comprising of main federation account revenue of N4.303 trillion and N1.416 trillion from the Value Added Tax (VAT) pool account.”

    Of this revenue, Udoma said “net oil receipts amount to N1.48 trillion or 25 per cent while net non-oil receipts accounts for the balance of N4.22 trillion or 75 per cent.”

    The Federal Government budgeted revenue the minister said is projected at N3.855 trillion largely contributed by its internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.51 trillion which is 35 per cent increase over the N2.855 trillion for 2015.

    The growth in the Federal Government revenue he said would be mainly derived from the growth in non-oil resources namely: Corporate Tax; VAT and dividend from government corporations and independent revenue. Government he said has projected that Corporate Tax will fetch it N1.88 trillion this year from N1.42trillion last year and VAT collection will fetch N1.48 trillion this year as against N1.28 trillion the previous year. Udoma was quick to explain that increase in projected VAT revenue will not be as result of an increase in the five per cent currently charged but by broadening the coverage so that there will be an aggressive drive to collect VAT from all those expected to pay rather than the rumoured increase from five per cent to ten percent.

    Highlights of major projects contained in the 2016 budget are:

    Road, bridge projects

    Over 40 projects spread across the geo-political zones, including:

    • N13billion for dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri road (Section I-V)
    • N8.7billion reconstruction and pavement strengthening of sections of Benin-Sagamu expressway
    • N14.2billion for the construction of Oju/Loko Oweto Bridge to link Loko and Oweto with approach Roads and Oshegbudu-Oweto road
    • N13 billion for concession of second Niger Bridge
    • N6billion for dualisation Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
    • N4.8 billionfor rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani road
    • N8.8 billion for rehabilitation of Sokot-Tambuwal Kotangora-Makira road
    • N40 billion for Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Section I)
    • N2.8 billion for completion of Gombe-Numan –Yola road phase II
    • N5 billion for the rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi-Oworoshoki road
    • N2.6 billion for dualization of Kano-Katsina road phase I
    • N6 billion for dualisation of Ibadan-Ilorin section II
    • N5.5billion for rehabilation of Enugu-Onitsha road
    • N2billion for dualization of Sapele-Agbor-Ewu road (Section I)

    Power projects

    Several projects designed to optimise and deliver consistently 7,000Mw of power, highlights of which are:

    • N5.5 billion for construction of 215Mw Gas Power Plant
    • N1.2 billion for construction of 2X60MVA Connection of Gurara to National Grid
    • N235.7 million for coal to power development in Enugu, Benue, Gombe and Kogi
    • N303.9 million for the completion of ongoing construction of ITC/TDN and installation of injection and distribution substations
    • N305.3 million for completion of small scale renewable energy power plants development
    • N1.1 billion for the generation of 700Mw from Zungeru hydro power project
    • N324.2 million for completion of rural electrification scheme in 23 communities in Ondo
    • N250.7million for completion of ongoing electrification project in Kano state

     Railway projects

    Several projects with a view to building a national rail network to move goods/people across the country, among which are:

    • N8.5 billion for the completion of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri 326Km Rail Track and structures
    • N18.3 billion for the completion of Abuja (Idu) – Kaduna 186.5Km Single Track Rail line
    • N60 billion counterpart funding for Lagos-Kano standard Guage Rail line
    • N60 billion counterpart funding for Calabar –Lagos Standard Guage rail line
    • N3.2 billion for provision of power, water, station building, fence, etc for rail lines

    Aviation projects

    Several projects designed to improve the security of our airports and airspace, including:

    • N432.5 million for procurement and illumination of Thales Navigational Aids at Kano, Jos, Minna, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt
    • N865 million for procurement and installation of Airfeild Lightening system at Port Harcourt, Knao, Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto, Yobe, Akure
    • N1.06 billion for Airside rehabilitation of Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja
    • N497.5 million for construction of terminal building at Enugu airport
    • N2 billion for purchase of calibration aircraft and equipment
    • N870.4 million for procurement, illumination and flood lightening of 16 airports

    Water projects

    Several projects designed to improve water supply for agriculture, power, drinking and sanitation nationwide, highlights of which are:

    • N232.1 million for construction of Hadejia valley irrigation projects
    • N204.2 million for supply/installation of pressurised/centre pivot irrigation system nationwide
    • N232.13 million for rehabilitation of Adani irrigation project
    • N100 million for World Bank Assisted Urban water sector reform project
    • N200 million for AfDB assisted rural water supply/sanitation initiatives
    • N1.2 billion for construction of dam embankment, spillway, inlet and outlet structures at Jare Earth dam
    • N1.5 billion construction of dam embankment at Kashimbila Dam
    • N989.46 million for construction of dam embankment at Adada river dam
    • N1 billion for construction of dam embankment at Ile-Ife
    • N500 million for construction of dam embankment at Galma dam
    • N1 billion for construction of 200 solae mortorised boreholes nationwide

    Housing projects

    • N35.6 billion for construction of 1,973 blocks of 7,068 Housing units in 6 geo-political zones and FCT

    Agriculture projects

    Several projects in pursuit of the nation’s goal of self-sufficiency/food security, including:

    • N1.3 billion for construction of rehabilitation of rural roads
    • N1.3 billion for support to 187,500 farmers
    • N939.7 million for extension services
    • N940 million for development for strategic grazing reserves
    • N940 million for price stabilisation/buy-back/price guarantee scheme

     Education projects

    Several initiatives towards improving standards and access to education nationwide, including:

    • N342.1 million secondary schoold quality assurances programme across 6 geo-political zones
    • N817.1 milluon for statutory visitation and monitoring of 90 federal tertiary institutions
    • N2.1 billion for servicing ongoing and new local and foreign scholarships

    Health projects

    Several programmes/projects designed to significantly improve health indices across the nation, highlights of which are:

    • N12.6 billion for vaccines, devices and operations programmes for polio, measles, yellow fever etc
    • N1.3 billion conter-part contribution for porcuremnet and distribution of Antiretroviral drugs and contraceptive commodities

    Special intervention

    N500billion social intervention projects in five areas namely:

    • Job creation: 500,000 teachers and 100,000 artisans – N191.5 billion
    • School feeding: 5.5 million children for 200 school days – N93.1 billion
    • Conditional cash transfer: 5,000/month for 1 month beneficiaries – N68.7 billion
    • Enterprise programme: support for one million market women; 460,000 artisans and 200,000 agric workers – N140.3 billion
    • STEM Education Grant for 100,000 students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – N5.8 billion, among others.
  • Why govt should respect agreements, by NLNG chief

    Why govt should respect agreements, by NLNG chief

    IT is vital for the Federal Government to respect the sanctity of agreements with investors, so Nigeria will not be seen as a nation that breaks agreements, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has said.

    Its Managing Director, Babs Omotowa, said this at a public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources. The hearing was on a bill to amend the NLNG Act so that it will begin to pay the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levies.

    He, however, reiterated the commitment of the company to partnering government agencies, including the (NDDC), to develop the Niger Delta, adding that it was  why the NLNG is one of the biggest promoters of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the area, supporting education, infrastructure development and entrepreneurship.

    He said: “As evidence of our commitment to the development of the Niger Delta, NLNG has spent $177 million in the areas of infrastructure, education etc in the region.  So it is not an issue of reluctance to support Niger Delta, but one of ensuring we work within the confines of the law and honour agreements and promises to maintain the valued reputation of our country in international business.

    “NLNG needs to be in the position to continue to support the region through being a successful Nigerian company, bringing value to the Delta and the nation in general, but that this would only be possible if the promises made to investors are not broken by amending the NLNG Act, which would certainly portray the country as one that does not honour agreements. Keeping agreements entered into with investors was crucial to retaining and attracting foreign investment into NLNG, as well as other sectors of the economy in line with the drive of the current administration.

    “The intervention of NLNG, more than any other single factor, has led to the progressive decline in Nigeria’s gas flaring profile over the years, from well over 65 per cent in the 1990s, to less than 20 per cent today. Therefore,2 aside from the fact that the company is earning revenue for the Federal Government and its other shareholders, it is cleaning up the Niger Delta environment in the process.

    “It goes without saying that the NLNG Act has been pivotal to the commencement of the project in the first place, and for the huge success the company has represented for Nigeria, with the country reaping over US$33 billion from its initial investment of US$2.5billion. The Act enabled the company to grow from its original 2-Trains to 6-Trains, creating an asset base of US$19 billion, 49 per cent of which the Federal Government owns.”

    He noted that the incentives which have been granted to NLNG are not peculiar to Nigeria. They were granted to encourage investments in gas utilisation to reduce flaring which had become a major problem for the country. Examples of similar incentive initiatives abound in Angola (12 years), Oman, Malaysia, Qatar and Trinidad (up to 10 years). Other more generous incentive schemes also exist in Nigeria, in the Free Trade Zones.

    Omotowa said the current amendment effort is most unusual as it attempts to enforce the payment of a levy from which an entity is expressly exempted by a valid and subsisting legislation in which the Federal Government of Nigeria gave unequivocal undertakings and declarations that induced significant investments.

    “As far as we are aware, this is the first time in the history of legislative practice in Nigeria that a proposal is being made to amend a law for the sole purpose of imposing a levy against a company for the benefit of an agency of government. We urge the honourable Committee not to lend itself to the establishment of an unjust precedent. To do otherwise would be to encourage other agencies of government who fail to make their case in judicial proceedings in court, to resort to legislative engineering to achieve what they failed to obtain in court,” he added.

  • Stakeholders task govt on sub-standard meters

    Nigeria is battling with low-quality meters because the Federal Government, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Metering Management Agency(EMMC) and others have failed to formulate policies to regulate the importation of meters. Coupled with this, is the love of money by importers, stakeholders have said.

    The stakeholders include the  Secretary, Electricity Meters Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), Muhideen Ibrahim  and the Managing Director, MEMCOL Limited,  Mr Kola Balogun.

    According to them, there is no regulation to check importers of meters. The development is having grave consequence on the industry.

    Ibrhahim said sub-standard meters were installed in Abuja and other cities a few years ago, adding that the meters did not last.

    He said people buy sub-standard meters from China because they are cheap, without considering the interest of users of the meters.

    He said: ‘’ Sub-standard meters work for a while; may be three to four years.  Aside that the meters are of lower qrade, they are easily by-passed.When the meters are by-passed, the power distribution companies (DisCos) bear the brunt, by not generating enough revenue.

    ’’Balogun said the meters’ voltages are below global recommendation.

    ‘’While the voltage approved for meters in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries is 220 to 240, this could not be said of Nigeria where the voltage has dropped to 110 to 80. When companies import meters from developed countries, they do not bother to re-configure the voltage to meet the needs of users. Failure to do this means people who use such meters will not enjoy them,” he said.

    He said voltage flucturates in the country, stressing that there are problems when  voltage rises beyond normal level.

    Ibrahim urged the Federal Government to put in place measures  to domesticate imported metersand insitute policies that would improve  the growth of local manufacturers of meters.

  • Govt assures HIV-infected expectant moms of safe delivery

    Govt assures HIV-infected expectant moms of safe delivery

    •Ministry trains TBAs, FBAs in HIV

    Expectant mothers living with HIV  in Akwa Ibom State can patronise Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and Faith-based Birth Attendants (FBAs) (those who take deliveries in churches and mission homes) without the fear of transmitting the virus to their babies. This is because the Ministry of Health has trained them in the art of safe delivery of patients with special needs.

    According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong, the roles of traditional and faith-based birth attendants in the provision of maternal health services needed to be expanded in the state because their engagement is aimed at improving maternal and neonatal child health services as well as increasing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

    The participants were drawn across the three pilot Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Eket, Etinan and Ikot Ekpene. Their training was in collaboration with the Management Science for Health (MSH) USAID, with assistance from the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB).

    At a programme to award certificates of participation to the participants, otherwise called ‘Graduation’, held at the E-Library Complex, Uyo,  Dr  Ukpong, said the journey began in October 2, last year with the policy launch for the regulation, monitoring and supervision of their operations in the state.

    Ukpong said: “The roles of traditional and faith-based birth attendants in the provision of maternal health services in our local communities cannot be denied, due to them being easily accessible and having the high level of trust that expectant women place in them. Also, the persistent space between the number of women that attend antenatal care (ANC) and the number of women that eventually deliver at the facilities with a skilled birth attendant particularly, the HIV positive expectant women reinforce the evidence of patronage of Traditional and Faith based attendants. As such, this engagement programme is imperative to ensure that the required services by pregnant women, especially HIV positive ones are received in a safe and hygienic environment with required referral services.”

    The Commissioner commended the TBAs for taking the training and internship seriously, and implored them to ensure the upgrade of their facilities and sites according to the set standards and criteria in the policy guidelines, “And do ensure that you record your data as at when due and appropriately,” he stated.

    In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr. Comfort Archibong said TBA and FBAs play important role in the community in the provision of maternal health services, by virtue of their proximity and accessibility to the rural dwellers, as they remain the preferred service providers for delivery in most communities over the formal health facilities.

    Dr Archibong said however deliveries with TBAs have been tainted with use of unsterilised tools, unskilled personnel, poor environmental conditions, and little or no knowledge of PMTCT, hence contributing to high maternal and infant mortality and mother to child transfer (MTCT) of HIV. “Women who test HIV positive and do not deliver in the facilities put their birth attendants (most likely TBAs and FBAs) and babies at risk of contracting the HIV virus. That is why the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Leadership Management and Governance project (LMG) is engaging with TBAs,” she stated.

    Dr Archibong said the focus is on five major areas: Regulation, Training, PMTCT, Coordination and Monitoring and Supervision.  “TBAs and FBAs have undergone two levels of training (Basic training and Internship) three weeks each, spanning duration of 6weeks. Their knowledge and skills was built in order to improve PMTCT uptake and improve maternal and child health. TBAs and FBAs graduating today have satisfactorily fulfilled the criteria required for the successful completion of their training,” said Dr Archibong.

  • How govt will grow MSMEs, create friendly business environment

    How govt will grow MSMEs, create friendly business environment

    The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has prioritised support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Minister, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has said.

    He said because MSMEs constituted over 60 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), his ministry was determined to support the sector to make it thrive.

    According to him, the support entails training, capacity building and ultimately, financing.

    Enelamah said this at the weekend while delivering the keynote address at the Fourth Great Place to Work Awards in Lagos.

    He said the ministry “will also seek to proactively attract investment both local and international.”

    H reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment at creating jobs and boosting productivity by fostering an enabling environment that supports the private sector and other stakeholders in creating jobs for the teeming population.

    Enelamah said: “This enabling environment would include consistent policies that would engender trust and help people plan their businesses better; corporate infrastructure and physical infrastructure such as power, roads, and rail etc. And of course, other infrastructure, which deals with institutions, rule of law, policies that you can rely on to build your businesses.”

    He also said the ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling environment involves progressively making it easier for businesses to operate.

    “We do not believe that the tag or the saying that Nigeria is a difficult place to do business, which is something we talk about quite often, is a good one,” he said.

    The Minister explained that his ministry will do this by implementing policies that remove the bottlenecks and roadblocks that make business hard or slow in Nigeria or unfriendly.

    “We want to create a friendly business environment. And I believe it can be done by a collective effort,” he said.

    Enelamah noted that having served in the private sector, one of the things that has become obvious is that creating a friendly business environment has to be a partnership of all the major stakeholders.

    He further said to boost productivity, his ministry plans to introduce sector policies that encourage local manufacturing and production of goods.

    “Our people are resourceful. When Nigerians go abroad they do very well. There must be something we can do better in our environment and that is something we are committed at doing,” he said.

  • Govt sets condition for partnership on national carrier

    The Federal Government has set out conditions under which it would go into a partnership with any interested party for the re-establishment of a national carrier.

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika said interested parties must have plans for direct transfer of technology through training of Nigerians and also put in place plans for local manufacturing of basic maintenance equipment and spare parts.

    The minister spoke in Abuja during a visit by representatives of Airbus.

    He explained that the conditions were indicative of the seriousness attached to the project by the Federal Government, adding that it is the only way to ensure that the proposed national airline comes on stream on a sound footing.

    The minister stated that the whole process of the establishment and the choice of partners, would be transparent.

    A statemnt endorsed  by the Deputy Director,Press and Public Affairs of the ministry, James Odaudu, quoted the minsiter as saying the vision of the government was to establish a national carrier that would not only be internationally competitive and profitable, but also efficiently and professionally managed while also being affordable an customer-centred.

    Welcoming Airbus’ interest in partnering with Nigeria on the project, he challenged the aircraft manufacturer to be prepared for competition with other interested organisations.

  • Wooden bridges to go in Lagos, says govt

    Wooden bridges to go in Lagos, says govt

    All wooden bridges in riverine areas in Lagos State will soon go, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Mr Ganiyu Johnson has said.

    They are to be gradually replaced under a policy adopted by the government, Johnson said at a briefing to commemorate the first anniversary of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

    Such areas include parts of Ojo Local Government; Oko-Oloyun in Alimosho and Okota in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government.

    Johnson said the exercise was decided upon following Ambode’s state-wide tour to assess the level of infrastructure and possible rehabilitation.

    Other projects conceived after the tour include the construction of the Ajah flyover and upgrading of the Freedom Road to Admiralty Road in Eti-Osa Local Government Area (LGA); construction of Abule-Egba flyover in Ifako-Ijaye LGA; and rehabilitation and upgrading of strategic arterial and inner roads in Epe.

    Johnson further listed other projects to include the construction of a pedestrian bridge, layby and slip road at Ojodu-Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; construction of the second Ojota pedestrian bridge; reconstruction of Brown Road, Oshodi and rehabilitation and upgrading of Aiyetoro Road (Section 1) and Ishefun/Camp Davis/New Market road (Section 1), both in Alimosho LGA.

    Similarly, the state is at an advanced stage of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a consortium to develop the fourth Mainland Bridge. He explained that the proposed bridge will run from Ajah to Northwest direction towards the lagoon shoreline to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway via Ikorodu. The approximate length of the bridge is 37.9km with a design speed of 140km/h. On completion, the bridge would drastically reduce traffic volume on Eko, Cater and Third Mainland Bridges.

    Johnson captures the importance and value of the project thus: “This lies in its capacity to rapidly decongest the traffic gridlock within the Lekki corridor and redistribute traffic towards Lagos Mainland, which serves to meet increased future road infrastructure demands.”

  • Catholic Church sues Ekiti govt over education tax

    Catholic Church sues Ekiti govt over education tax

    The Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has filed a suit against the imposition of levies on pupils in its primary and secondary schools by the Ekiti State government.

    The church urged an Ekiti State High Court to declare that the defendants could not impose education development levy or tax on pupils and schools.

    The court is to restrain the defendants from further demand of the levy.

    According to the originating summons, the Incorporated Trustees of Catholic Diocese of Ekiti are the claimants. The defendants are the Attorney General, Commissioner for Education and the government.

    The Church wants the court to determine “if every child of primary school and junior secondary school age in Ekiti State is not entitled to free and compulsory basic education.

    It also wants the court to determine if “the imposition of education development levy or any tax or levy on pupils and schools in Ekiti State, including the claimants’ schools, by the defendants, does not violate Section 2 of Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004 and Section 19 of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Law”.

    The Catholic Church also wants the court to determine if the defendants could impose education development levy or tax on pupils and schools “without a law validly passed by the House of Assembly”.

    The Church is seeking an order of mandatory injunction directing the defendants to endorse and approve the applications of  pupils of its schools for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, pending the determination of the substantive case.

    Diocesan Bishop Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye said he was “concerned about the propriety of imposing any development levy on pupils in Catholic mission schools in Ekiti State, moreover when our schools are paying various levies and taxes demanded by both the local and state governments”.

    Addressing a briefing at the weekend, Ajakaye expressed dismay at the closure of seven Catholic schools even as some of them are preparing for their NECO examinations.

    The closure, according to him, followed the breakdown of negotiations between the Diocese and government representatives.

    The cleric said as a law abiding body, the Church was taking steps to seek judicial resolution of the matter.

    “The affected pupils are writing exams and government is closing down their schools. That is insensitivity.”

  • Govt to security agencies: crush security threat

    Govt to security agencies: crush security threat

    The Federal Government yesterday restated its resolve to deal decisively with threats of crises and conflicts that are capable of disrupting peace and security in Nigeria.

    Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, stated this at the opening of a three-day seminar on Information Management in Crisis Situations in Nigeria.

    He said the security of lives and property of citizens remained top on the agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “The government of President Muhammadu Buhari’s number one priority is to ensure the security of lives and property of its citizens, guarantee a secure environment for socio-economic activities to thrive without hindrance.

    “To this end, all security agencies in Nigeria have been called upon to crush and deter the threats of crisis and conflict that have potential to disrupt peace and security of our country.

    “Our security and response agencies are constantly engaged in the essential tasks required for meeting these internal security objectives, our government will not relent in this primary objective’’, he said.

    He said government would no longer tolerate unpatriotic acts that were capable of undermining the present administration’s efforts in entrenching sanity in the polity.

    Dan-Ali acknowledged the efforts of troops and their commanders in the various theatres of operations in ensuring that Nigerian territories were not only secured but conducive for socio-economic activities to thrive.

    The minister assured members of the Armed Forces and other security and response agencies, of the present administration’s commitment to their welfare.

    He said despite the prevailing economic condition in the country, efforts were underway to improve the capacity of security and response agencies to discharge their duties effectively.

    Dan-Ali said the seminar was timely as it would facilitate a robust interaction between information managers in the security and disaster management sector, and the media.

    He said officers from the various security and response agencies would find a common ground to learn new skills, share experiences and build capacity of one another on information management.

    Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said the seminar was one of the centre’s intervention in crisis management in Nigeria.